First Flight American Airlines NY - Berlin

First Flight American Air Lines NY To Berlin
Post 28 AUG 1946,

(Page 1931 of the 5th Edition AAMC (American Airmail Society Catalogue))
The cover is a US FOREIGN CONTRACT AIR MAIL ROUTE 34 (FAM 34)
NEW YORK- AMSTERDAM – EXTENSION TO BERLIN
Inaugural Service: – EXTENSION TO BERLIN
Airline: AMERICAN AIRLINES Pilot was Frank Cassil
Date: 08/28/1946

COVER IS ACTUALLY TYPE: FAM24-24 with a Type F24b Cachet in Purple

Although American Airlines had been granted a certificate to fly to Germany some weeks prior to the above date, no mail was carried officially until the flight of August 28. The Airline had attempted to send round trip covers on this service, but as local regulation in Germany prevented this, it refunded those to collectors who had sent remittances to them. Planes of this line inaugurated service to Frankfurt and Berlin as early as May 18 but mail was not carried beyond Amsterdam. Covers exist from both New York and Berlin, dated May 18 and 20 respectively, BUT AS THEY WERE CARRRIED PRIVATELY AND UNOFFICIALLY they do not come within the scope of the listing.

If you are seriously interested in First Flight Covers, I strongly recommend a set of AAMC catalogs -- they are an invaluable tool these covers.