Wartime Airmail Cover...

Well, it has been a couple of days without a post here, so I've got something you all can help me with. While my original collecting focus was airmail stamps and FDC's, I've been adding various wartime covers to my collection. One of the latest:





I'm still learning the ropes with respect to rates and routes, so I could use a little help here. Do the three prexies satisfy the registered mail rate? Does the second airmail stamp reflect that it was probably over 1/2 oz, or is there some international/overseas rate involved?

As for the markings on the back, here are a couple of enhanced images:





The red postmarks on the back apparently track its transit. I can make out dates -- Sep 17, Sep 18, and Sep 19 -- but not all locations, though the last is Washington, DC. The penciled notations are probably an early collector's efforts to ascertain locations. After arriving in DC on the 19th, we have it stamped received at the Pentagon on Sep 21. One of the markings reads, in the outer circle "WAR REGISTERED MUNITIONS." Does anyone know the history of that stamp, and what it was used for? Obviously, I don't think any bombs were enclosed. That would have required additional postage, I think.

I'm going to do some research on who the "generals" would have been at this time. But any and all light you can shine on the provenance of this cover will be much appreciated.

Basil

The Commanding General of the Antilles Air Command at the time was Brig. Gen. Edwin B. Lyon. The Commanding General of the AAF at the time was "Hap" Arnold, featured on Scott #2191. He received his fourth star earlier that year, in March.

Could the "WAR REGISTERED MUNITIONS" stamp refer to the Munitions Building, which housed AAF operations prior to the construction of the Pentagon? By this time, all operations should have moved from the Munitions Building to the Pentagon. So why would the letter have been delivered there, I wonder? I've learned that Arnold had his office there, in 1942, but this was 1943.

I think it sure would be interesting to know what the cover contained when sent to Washington D.C.?

I'm resurrecting this thread hoping to generate some more discussion. I'm still curious about the meaning of "WAR REGISTERED." There are two different stamps with this term on the back of the envelope, one "WAR REGISTERED MUNITIONS" and the other "WAR REGISTERED PENTAGON." It would appear that this cover was first delivered to the Munitions Bldg. in D.C., and then went over to the Pentagon. Does anyone know of any other military locations using the "WAR REGISTERED" notion for registered mail? Maybe what I'm seeking is to determine whether registered mail for the military was treated any differently than normal? I am also wondering how unusual this "WAR REGISTERED" marking is?

Another question, which occurs because I've been looking at A.P.O. covers, is that this cover doesn't appear to have a traditional A.P.O. postmark. But isn't it likely that it used the military postal system? It does go to the P.M. of NYC. Some previous collector appears to have been able to read some of the postmarks better than I can, and traces the package from Edinburgh Field, Trinidad --> "AATO Field," Curacao --> Dakota Field, Aruba, all military airfields. In August of 1943, K.L.M. began flying from Curacao to Miami, but cover appears to have stayed within the military transport system. But I cannot myself determine the originating postmark to be sure it was an A.P.O.

Impressive cover, very nice.

Regards,
Stampalotapus