Air Crash Mail 1921-1960 From the Air Crashes 1921-1960

City of Jerusalem-1929

City of Jerusalem-1929

Description

The Imperial Airways De Havilland DH66 “City of Jerusalem” was flying on the route from the United Kingdom to India. On this sector, because the airfield had no landing lights, Capt. A.E. Woodbridge had planned to arrive before dusk. However, it was dark on arrival, and he misjudged his height above the flare path, the aircraft stalled and crashed to the ground. The petrol from the damaged wing tanks was ignited by the flares, and the plane was badly damaged.

This postcard was posted from Dublin in EIRE on August 7th, 1929, addressed to Wellington, New Zealand where it arrived on September 10th. The Post Office there was not able to locate the addressee, and marked the card in red ink “Received with stamps off.” The card was then cancelled again on September 14th, and returned to Gosport in Hampshire, England.

The Engineer and one passenger were killed, as well as Capt. A.E. Woodbridge, a very experienced and competent pilot, who had shot down Baron von Richthofen (the Red Baron) at the end of the First World War.