Question About 6 Cent Airmail Concession Rate During WWII

After the entry into the war, American military personnel outside of the US could post mail at 6 cents, making the 6 cent airmail stamp C25 one of the most produced stamps in US postal history. The booklet version, C25a, was specifically produced for the convenience of service personnel overseas.

How does this square with the free franking privilege of service personnel overseas? I'm guessing that the stamp bought airmail service, while free franking was "ground" service (and thus slow boat for overseas mail). Is that so? Could anyone point me to a source that would confirm this?

Basil

Yes, you are going in the right direction. Free frank for US military personnel was for surface mail, whether they were stationed in the states or overseas. So yes, if they wanted airmail service, they had to pay for it themselves. There are chapters on free mail in the Beecher/Wawrukiewicz US Domestic Postal Rates book as well as Lawrence Sherman's United States Post Office in World War II. B&W cites Postal Bulletin issue 18418 as giving the details on the inception of the WWII franking.

Here is an example of the booklet stamp showing a partial plate number used from APO 451, dated May 11, 1945, in Germany at the time. He wanted it sent fast, so he paid extra.



Less direct to your question, here is a free franked envelope within the states sent about 40 miles with the special delivery fee added. It it sent from a V-7 student in the US Naval Reserve Midshipmans School at Notre Dame.

John,

Thanks. That is exactly the kind of help I was seeking. I appreciate the contributions you are making to the forum.

Basil

The references above detail the extension of the domestic 6 cent airmail rate in Dec 1941 to overseas military personnel and its continuance at 6 cents for military personnel after the domestic airmail rate went up to 8 cents in March 1944. The free frank did not come along until April 1, 1942. Both types of mail rates were gradually extended during the war to cover more and more military related groups, but dealt with as separate rate issues legislatively. And both rates ended at different times. Your 6 cent booklet does not get issued until March 18, 1943, so well after the 6 cent airmail and free frank rates are established.

Thomas H. Boyle, Jr's Airmail Operations During World War II also has a chapter detailing the much of the same airmail info.