Famgus Aviation Postcards: American Airlines

Last updated December 17 2015 This is my collection of pre-WWII airline issued postcards for two American airlines ... I have also decided to sneak in two postacrds I have from Western Air Express since they obviously did cooperate in some way with United Air Lines. AMERICAN AIRLINES \| UNITED AIR LINES WESTERN AIR EXPRESS Number of postcards: 50
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American Airlines

I believe this is a series issued during the mid 1930s. One card in my collection is dated in 1935, two other are mailed post marked in 1936.

Unnumbered

World's Fastest Transport Plane, The VULTEE ...
crusing speed 215 miles per hour! One of American Airlines' new fleet.

A-103-C

Cowboys greeting the "Southerner" at Fort Worth ... Plane: An American Airlines'
Douglas

A-103-D

Fast, new Douglas Airliner ...
One of a fleet of these new 14-passenger planes operated by American Airlines.

A-103-N

Above the Falls! Matchless view of Niagara's splendor as seen from an American Airliner ...

A-103-S

A comfortable berth in one of the World's Only Sleeper Planes ...
An American Airlines' Curtiss Condor.

I believe this is a series issued during the late 1930s, early 1940s. Three of the cards in my collection have been mailed, post marked 1937, 1939 and 1942.
At least two numbering schemes are used "A-135-x" and "A-160-x".

A-135-A
Airline issued

The AMERICAN ARROW ...
one of the giant American Flagship 21-passenger Day Planes
in high-speed non-stop service between New York and Chicago ... both ways, twice daily.

A-135-C
Airline issued

Overnight coast-to-coast!
THE SOUTHERNER,
Flagship Sleeping Plane, inbound from New York to Los Angeles, roars a 100 mile-per-hour salute to
San Gorgonio.
Only American provides Sleeper Plane service, transcontinental.

A-135-D
Airline issued

Pleasant daytime interior of an American Flagship Pullman-STyle Sleeper Planes. These giant luxuary liners spab the continent overnight on the Southern Transcontinental, providing travelers with America's only Sleeper plane service.

A-135-E
Airline issued

Morning scene in an American Flagship Pullman Style Sleeper Plane: This pleased traveler has flown from Los Angeles to New York overnight in a downy berth, large as a twin bed. Ready for his morning shave and a hot breakfast aloft, he faces a new day, refreshed and fit.

A-160-A
Airline issued

Passenger boarding the world-famous "American Mercury" ... giant Flagship Skysleeper overnight from New York to California. American Airlines, Inc., is the original sleeper plane line.

A-160-B
Airline issued

Over the Flowering Desert of Arizona in the Sun Country ocf the Southwest. One of American Airlines' giant Skysleepers traveling the Southern All-Year Route from coast-to-coast overnight.

A-160-D
Airline issued

The "American Mercury" Skysleepers arrives at Los Angeles in the early morning ... overnight from New York. This famous coast-to-coast through service makes only 3 stops ... with no change of planes ... on the favorable Southern All-Year Route.

A-160-E
Airline issued

Niagara Falls from a giant Flagship Club Plane! An exclusive feature of American Airlines' scenic Niagara route between New York and Chicago, through Buffalo and Detroit. Typical of the many and varied sights on American Airlines' great nation-wide system.

I believe this is a series issued during the late 1930s, early 1940s. Two of the cards in my collection have been mailed, post marked 1939 and 1941.
One numbering scheme is used "A-245-x". However, several cards have the same number ... So in reality, what does the number represent? Today I have no clue.

A-245-A
Airline issued

Flight-Seeing by Flagship ... certainly a grand way to go places and see things. Here's Niagara Falls - an aerial eye-miler on American's New York - Chicago
Niagara Route.

A-245-A
Airline issued

It's so calm ...
In another world above the clouds, the earth and its cares are out of sight - out of mind. That's one reason Flagship travel is so refreshing.

A-245-A
Airline issued

P. S. - Personalized Service on American Flagships! The Stewardess is a regular Jill-of-all-Trades, adept at everything from explaining land marks to helping mothers feed their children.

A-245-B
Airline issued

The Flag you've seen distinguishing American Flagships is patterned on the U.S.N. Admiral's flag. And that's appropriate ... American's personalized service makes everyone aboard feel like an Admiral.

A-245-C
Airline issued

This flight - marked out in pencil on the map - is a fine example of the real way of travel. With freedom from tipping, complimentary meals, and no "extras", it's not hard to figure a saving of money as well as time.

A-245-C
Airline issued

Take-off in a Flagship on your next trip. American Airlines serves 57 major cities coast to coast - goes "most everywhere' you want to go. And everywhere you'll find your travel worries banished by the American Standard of Service.

A-245-D
Airline issued

Live Aloft and Like It! ... in a 100-mile-an-hour "room with a view." Surprisingly, there's no sensation of height or speed. You feel no connection with the earth - except as an exalted spectator.

A-245-D
Airline issued

Live Aloft and Like It! ... in a 100-mile-an-hour "room with a view." Surprisingly, there's no sensation of height or speed. You feel no connection with the earth - except as an exalted spectator.

A-245-D
Airline issued

She Can Show You the Way to Go Home - by American Flagship. These Stewardesses are regular
Jills-of-all-Trades, adept at everything from explaining land marks to helping mothers feed their children.

A-245-E
Airline issued

Three Happy Experts - just finishing their day's work - give you a good idea of what American means - and why it can talk with truth - about offering "The American Standard of Service".

A-245-E
Airline issued

Appetites somehow have an extra zest aloft. Full coarse meals are complementary. And American spares no arts of cookery to make them thoroughly delightful!

A-245-E
Airline issued

From a Flagship - that's the way to see Niagara! At a single glance both the American Falls and the Horseshoe spread before you. It's an aerial eye-filler you can only get on American's New York-Chicago Niagara Route.

A-245-F
Airline issued

Southwestern Passage!
American's Flagships fly Coast-to-Coast overnight along the their Southern All-Year Route - crossing the frontier country chosen long ago for early transcontinental trails.

A-245-F
Airline issued

Good Morning! Bed time last night was 1000 miles away. These Flagship Skysleepers berths are actually larger than twin beds - and really comfortable.

United Airlines

I believe this is a series issued during the mid 1930s.
At least two numbering schemes exist, the 100 and 200 series.

No: 101
Airline issued

Mount Shasta

No: 200
Airline issued

New York

I believe this is a series issued during the mid 1930s.
Three numbering schemes exist at least, the 100, 200 and 400 series.

No: 101
Airline issued

Mount Shasta

No: 102
Airline issued

Los Angeles

No: 202
Airline issued

Dallas

No: 203
Airline issued

Salt Lake City

No: 204
Airline issued

San Francisco

No: 206
Airline issued

Cleveland

No: 402
Airline issued

Speed with comfort ...

No: 405
Airline issued

At your service aloft ...

This card has a slightly different backside than the other three. It has the map within two circles, but lacks the text "In flight with with United Air Lines". Anyway, here it comes ...

Unnumbered
Airline issued

SCIENCE MAKES NIGHT FLYING ROUTINE

This card has a different backside with the slogan "UNITED'S MAIN LINE AIRWAY".

Unnumbered
Airline issued

UNITED'S MAIN LINE AIRWAY

I believe this is a series issued during the mid 1930s. Three cards post marked 1936-1938.
The five cards I have got are unnumbered.

Unnumbered
Airline issued

New York City

Unnumbered
Airline issued

Los Angeles

Unnumbered
Airline issued

San Francisco

Unnumbered
Airline issued

Columbia River Gorge

Unnumbered
Airline issued

"Main Line" Mid-Continent Airway

Unnumbered
Airline issued

Yellowstone Park

I believe this is a series issued during the late 1930s, early 1940s. Two of the cards in my collection have been mailed, post marked 1939 and 1941.

No: 6
Airline issued

DINING ALOFT AT 200 MILES AN HOUR

No: 7
Airline issued

THE WORLD'S FIRST EXTRA FARE PLANE

I believe this is a series issued 1933 for the Chicago World Fair. The three postcards I have are all unused.
The postcard with white boarders have a slightly different backside than the other two.

Unnumbered
Airline issued

The Boeing monoplane of United Air Lines have ushered in a New Era in Travel. With two 550 h. p. super-charged Wasp engines, they have a high speed of more than three miles a minute.

Unnumbered
Airline issued

Today I inspected one of the planes used in the world's fastest multi-motored passenger-mail-express plane service - a sister ship of the one pictured on the reverse side. Sixty of these new type all-metal Boeing monoplanes are in service on United Air Lines various routes.

Unnumbered
Airline issued

AIR LINER IS FLYING CITY
With its passenger accommodations, storage space, its power, heating and lighting plants, its telephone system and other features, this three-mile-a-minute Boeing Wasp-powered plane of United Air Lines represents the latest in airplane design and construction.

Western Air Express

I believe this is a series issued during the mid 1930s.
Apparently Western Air Express did cooperate with United Air Lines. On the map above (which is taken from the backside of the postacards) Western Air Express operates between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Unnumbered
Airline issued

BOULDER DAM
as seen from the planes of
WESTERN AIR EXPRESS

Unnumbered
Airline issued

ZION NATIONAL PARK
as seen from the planes of
WESTERN AIR EXPRESS