This page contains the text of the exhibit. The exhibit was created by, and is the property of the late Al Kugel, and is being supplied by his heirs as a courtesy to the Military Postal History Society. (See https://militaryphs.org/blog) The Military Postal History Society (MPHS) is a non-profit organization for philatelists and stamp collectors interested in the collecting and studying of the postal aspects of all wars and military actions of all countries, including soldiers' campaign covers, naval mail, occupation and internment covers, patriotics, propaganda, V-mail, censorship and similar related material.
On 7 December 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy attempted to destroy the US Pacific Fleet
at Pearl Harbor. At the same time, it began an offensive against US forces in the Philippines that resulted in the worst defeat suffered by the US Army at the hands of a foreign power since the War of 1812.
The Japanese government counted on these setbacks, plus the ones that would follow in the next 6 months as Japanese forces tore through the paper-thin defenses of the British, Dutch
and Americans in the Pacific, to lead the United States to seek a negotiated settlement.
Instead, American public opinion, American industry and over 15 million American citizens
were mobilized in an effort aimed at the total defeat not just of Japan, but of the other Axis Powers as well.
This exhibit focuses on the mail to and from members of the US Army (including Army Air
Forces) serving abroad. It deals first with the handling of this mail: the army postal office
numbering system(s), postal markings, postage rates, Army censorship and special classes of mail that emerged because of the war. The second part of the exhibit follows the expansion of
the Army Postal Service coincident with the geographic dispersal of the Army as it dealt with
the Axis threat.
The following pages do not completely illustrate the history of the war or the military postal
history of the period, since they exclude Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard mail handled by the Fleet Post Office system abroad, as well as almost all military mail within the United
States. They do, however, — cover much the largest part of the war and the US military mail
that it generated.
This exhibit was created by, and is the property of the late Al Kugel, and is being supplied by his heirs as a courtesy to the Military Postal History Society. (See http://militaryphs.org) The
Military Postal History Society (MPHS) is a non-profit organization for philatelists and stamp
collectors interested in the collecting and studying of the postal aspects of all wars and military actions of all countries, including soldiers' campaign covers, naval mail, occupation
and internment covers, patriotics, propaganda, V-mail, censorship and similar related material.
THE US ARMY AND ITS POSTAL SERVICE ABROAD
DURING WORLD WAR II
On 7 December 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy attempted to destroy the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl
Harbor, At the same time, it began an offensive against US forces in the Philippines that resulted in the
worst defeat suffered by the US Army at the hands of a foreign power since the War of 1812.
The Japanese government counted on these setbacks, plus the ones that would follow in the next 6
months as Japanese forces tore through the paper-thin defenses of the British, Dutch and Americans in
the Pacific, to lead the United States to seek a negotiated settlement. Instead, American public opinion,
American industry and over 15 million American citizens were mobilized in an effort aimed at the total
defeat not just of Japan, but of the other Axis Powers as well.
This exhibit focuses on the mail to and from members of the US Army (including Army Air Forces)
serving abroad. It deals first with the handling of this mail: the army postal office numbering system(s),
postal markings, postage rates, Army censorship and special classes of mail that emerged because of the
war. The second part of the exhibit follows the expansion of the Army Postal Service coincident with
the geographic dispersal of the Army as it dealt with the Axis threat.
The following pages do not completely illustrate the history of the war or the military postal history of
the period, since they exclude Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard mail handled by the Fleet Post
Office system abroad, as well as almost all military mail within the United States. They do, however,
cover much the largest part of the war and the US military mail that it generated.
Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941; the war begins.
THE US ARMY AND ITS POSTAL SERVICE ABROAD
DURING WORLD WAR II
PLAN OF EXHIBIT
I. Army Mail 2. From Abroad
A. APO Numbers a F. Army Censorship 1. Provisional Devices
2. Devices Standard for Certain Areas
3. Standard Devices
4. Blue Envelopes 5. Anomalies
1. Regular Numbers 2. Non-standard Numbers
3. Transit Numbers
4. Deletion of Numbers
B. Military Postal Markings
1. American Base Forces G. Special Classes of Mail
2. US Army Postal Service 1. V-Mail
3. Miscellaneous Text/Design 2. War Ballots
4. BPO Postmarks 3. Telegrams
5. PRS Postmarks 4. POW Mail
6. Auxiliary Markings II. US Army at War
C. Rates A. Establishing Defensive and Supply Systems
1. US Troops 1. Western Hemisphere
2. Official Mail 2. Atlantic Ocean Eastward
D. APO Use by Non-US Army Personnel 3. Pacific Ocean Westward
1. Other US Military B. Offensive Operations
2. Civil Servants 1. Western Hemisphere
3. Red Cross 2. Europe and Africa
4. Other American Civilians 3. China-Burma-India Theater
5. Allied Forces 4. South Pacific Area
6. Foreign & UN Officials 5. South West Pacific Area
E. APO Incoming Mail 6. Central Pacific Area
1. From US — eS om, a ee coor tee
oy {/ SUBRENBER Wig e 7 ol a
ARMY MAIL Regular Numbers APO AUAIRESS Stationary Offices
R. H. Davis AmBmbassy APO #193
% Postmaster, New York
‘ulvprovea for pouci
ah
my ie__y 7 a iy ir ay “eas wef s/Sgt. Ernest ©. Carlsen
ATC STATION APO 2494, New York City
VIA AIR MAIL
8/Sgt. C. L. Morgan 9th Comm. Sqdn APO #695 c/o Postmaster New York City
a ae a a "Regular" (as opposed to transit) APOs used most of the numbers between 1 and 1058, plus a handful in the 2000 and 3000 series. The majority of APO numbers were assigned to locations rather than to units. Occasionally the locations of such "stationary" APOs would change, but most of them stayed in the same country, and many in the same place, once assigned.
Among the more elusive and sought-after of the stationary APOs are 193 (US Embassy and Military Mission, Moscow,
mailing address only; covers carried by diplomatic pouch for mailing through nearby APO, in this case 523, Teheran), 999
(various Canadian locations, example above from Ft. Smith, NWT), and 2494 (Bowen Field, Haiti).
APO Numbers Regular Numbers
forsthaus Fasanerie, Merseburg inh. Otio Haese
Angenehmer Aushiy
ea 4 , i Fé, 4 b fy ik it
ate ; O38 INF
2A
APO 2 was located at Merseburg, in eastern
Germany when this card
was sent.
a,
The 2™ Inf. Division (about 12,000 men at full strength)
saw a tremendous amount
of combat. Its losses from
June 7, 1944 to May 9, 1945
were 3,031 killed and
12.785 wounded.
Sincerely,
General Dwight D. Eisenhower APO 757, New York, N.Y.
Mr. 2. Bruce Engle
APO 757 served 822 Ne Fairview Ave.
HQ, US Forces, Lansing, Mich. Europe and, later,
Supreme HQ, Al- lied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF). rs On pes At Versailles when vf 4) 2 hs this letter was sent. ' b sd eee
: rN
Beginning in May 1942 an effort was made to co-ordinate APO numbers with Division numbers. Of the first 100 APO
numbers, 44 were assigned to Infantry Divisions of the same number, and APOs 251 through 263 were assigned to the 1°
through 13” Armored Divisions, respectively. No attempt was made to systematically assign numbers to APOs serving
higher-level organizations (Corps, etc.), and the co-ordination of APO and Division numbers was eventually abandoned.
Return addresses of Army combat units very seldom include the Division number, but instead identify the sender to a
regiment or even smaller unit. An "Order of Battle" listing is necessary to identify these smaller units to their divisions.
APO Numbers Non-Standard "Numbers"
“ % 4 a
Colonel 0. De Carre : Cifrreto Ses
tem. Mills, .veds Ape
gee EY ae RECEEY ED assigned in the Philippines to
JUNAS 42 : Ft. Mills, as indicated in the
W.F.D. 1 return address.
UNION TRUST Co. Cover carried to Australia by
Union Trust Company submarine. cen-
i5th & H St.;-N, W. sored there and
rp Washington, D. C. : posted. = ao St
~~ AFTER FIVE DAYS RETURN TO éV} o« "i
f Y, Att. A VIE Ce ue dive ee a
ihe 6 What MIG LE.
Yaelitpeny, Piez, : Y
"Plum" was
the code ad- we
dress assigned Bs
to the Philip- AY pines. 192"° & ‘
Tank Bn. was
destroyed on SY
Bataan.
oy Cnt mage
Early in the war at least 2 short-lived non-standard APO identification systems were introduced. In the Philipines APOs 1 - 7
were established, none with postmark. In lieu of transit APO numbers, code-names such as "Plum" and "Straw Hat" were
assigned to several locations in the Pacific.
APO Numbers Transit Numbers
APO 888 return
address. posted
through APO 810
(Baldurshagi,
Iceland.
APO 1221, recorded used
by various air units in
Palestine, Egypt and
Libya. The unit history of the "Black Scorpions"
(64" Fighter Squadron) places them in Libya from
13 November 1942 to 13
March 1943.
A need to keep track of units in transit without breaching security resulted in the assignment of transit-APO numbers: APO numbers that were allocated to a unit (or even to an individual) in transit and almost always abandoned upon or shortly after arrival at the ultimate destination. So far the following 3-digit APO numbers, officially "Never Activated," have been
identified as transit APOs: 888, 899 and 904. When it became clear that as many as 1000 regular APOs would be created, 4- and 5-digit transit numbers were assigned.
APO Numbers Deletion of Numbers
Corp Bowers 5602-4 ARoW14 Postmaster Som ancisco, Cal.
v=
prt} ily 35 OWN IY ihe: ie
Waly frat iragl a y
A@ GA NI NV XG |
-
On 1 July 1942 it was ordered that APO numbers be deleted from APO postmarks and this order appears to have been carried
out universally, if not immediately in all cases. Most APO numbers had been permanently incorporated into the postmarks,
and were carved out. As the APO number continued to be used in the return address, little security advantage was gained by
leaving it out of the postmark, and the numbers were ordered restored on 10 March 1943. This was accomplished, in most
cases, for regular mail cancels by using movable numeral slugs in the date/time portion of the postmark. Registry and
M.OB. cancels did not have room for this, and so remained unnumbered.
APO 914 opened on Canton Island 13 March 1942, and remained there for the remainder of the war.
MILITARY POSTAL MARKINGS Handstamps
American Base Forces
APO 806, Antigua <7
APO 920. Batchelor Field,
NT, Australia (1* day of
operation)
jigs. Det, Base Couimand 69%6 SK Ape. 7 510, Lee land. re
as leh Lt 974
a
| |
APO 810, Baldur- shagi, Iceland }
\,
"American Base Forces" was, beginning 16 April 1941, used in postmarks supplied to US troops serving in territories not
under US administration. This nomenclature continued to be used in APO postmarks created during the first half of 1942,
and some of these postmarks remained in use throughout the war. The vast majority of the 35 different APOs which used
American Base Forces postmarks were located in Allied colonies in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Postmarks Machine Cancels _
American Base Forces
APO 802, St.
George, Bermuda
APO 810, Baldur-
shagi, Iceland
it AA Tor 4a bi ges
gP04#3 10. Ieekawa
é3 ; ey
37 Lop [tes Lite fpbles or . = =e lq
om ee A, eo. Le
\ | /
VIA AIR MAIL :
APO 803. Port of ] .
Spain, Trinidad Ri or IS | fir
Machine cancellations incorporating "American Base Forces" daters were assigned to the few stations with sufficient volume
to justify their use, in Bermuda, Trinidad and Iceland.
Special Services Datestamps Military Postal Markings American Base Forces
APO 929, Port Moresby,
New Guinea
APO 928, Milne Bay,
Registry and Money
Order Business date-
stamps are recorded for
enough of the APOs which
: used the American Base Forces
7 nomenclature to justify the assump-
tion that these were routinely issued to
each such APO. Even philatelic usage of
MOB. datestamps is scarce, and non-
philatelic use is rare.
Postmarks Secondary Usage
American Base Forces
i fie fbr Dye Gage) ‘Bga¢ 4 Cp V4
Ap. 0. af v4 Cob Hoty os
eT a WBC IG7IS
Put .feu, CoP Jot bua Rey,
/) Peo. Db 9 firntentate.
de. Mate 2d om
wee See
AAO, 9p I Cue Cale
44 a pst Goes Acero
Some American Base Forces postmarks continued to be used well after the end of the war. The excision of APO numbers
pursuant to orders issued 1 July 1942 allowed the reassignment of a few of these datestamps to new offices, as in the case of
each of the examples above: APO 680, Ahwaz, Iran, APO 716, Americal Div., then on Guadalcanal; 9 PRS (Postal
Regulating Station), Clark Field, Philippines.
wi se
Postmarks Regular Mail Handstamps
US. Army Postal Service
M/Sgt Vincent Anastasio sneueeeasees ee Sth Airways Detachment APO #720 c/o Postmaster San Francisco, California
PASSED BY Is feunre a Gfadiendin,
( 12051 SPs. 9/y & Zo BR age 77 2 bo ARMY -X@Mih fi :
———— ae
Beginning in early 1942 (earliest recorded date is 21 March, from APO 502, New Caledonia), the Army introduced what was
to be its standard format for APO cancels for the rest of the war: a duplex handstamp with a single-circle dater incorporating
the text "U.S. Army Postal Service" with a 4-bar killer. Approximately a dozen major varieties of this design, based on size,
spacing and additional or deleted text, have been reported, and about as many more sub-varieties.
APO 720 (Penrhyn Island, a scarce location) and 918 (various Canadian locations on the Alcan Highway, shown here from
Brook's Brook, Y.T.) show the two usual designs. APO 632 (Batista Field, Cuba) had one of the most unusual text spacings.
Postmarks Regular Mail Handstamps
U.S. Army Postal Service Sub-Units
Of. ee ore dO foal)
WI gyn. 2b.. 4 AFG. YOY
Fo PM ates ee
FE Ps Uk DU
Sh | za 4
o mdi ye 4 ee
. eine ee a / :
. 2 MV Y i Khe, SE a
= foes lea :
x FROM W/ > eso h -
E] on Riley Go tgt OTIOM9 & . 1 ofa
= ISIE Gir. I AP?O Lay ea oe, y a : ‘ ain 0. wail
a
~ AR: - Es Ra eee emia asngs
= 4) (=) =)
Numerous APOs had sub-units, designated by a letter or a number, but only a few of these designations show up in the
regular mail handstamps. While the number of sub-units so identified was not large, examples of these postmarks are not
uncommon, as these sub-units tended to serve organizations or locations where large amounts of mail were generated.
APO 375-B, Montaicino, Italy, subordinate to APO then located at Leghorn. APO 637-1, subordinate to the APO serving the
g" Fighter Command, Watford, England. APO 638-A, subordinate to the APO serving the 9" Air Defense Command,
Sunninghill, England.
wi yw 447 vay aw ow yee aie
Chaplain John F.Bya fi r Z ent at
Unusual Types @ 1° 1, Floride
Yt tik EY shirr 3 04487 7 y
i LOA GOT Crn.gi [3+ Af O- YE 7 So Féttinaitey
i Wd 4A 4
~&1FER 1944: [- PASSED BY CS/y i —————- : 4
(7 #¢ EE aS
gl ee }
ae = @
| @s
= / oS<
= —
ae oO © | o
: © =5
ri & ia == = ‘ ax * a ; ee ae r “| r ee |
In the postmarks intended for first class mail, the most prevalent departure from the normal types of cancels was the use of a double-circle design. (Those which look like special services daters are distinguished by the presence of killer bars.) These occur with various wording. The special services daters are also known with departures from the normal American Base Forces and Army Postal Service wording. The identification of sub-units is more prevalent in these postmarks than in first class cancels, since tracking of registered mail was of greater importance to the Post Office.
APO 675, Recife, Brazil. APO 469, 82™ Airbome Div. (then in Englad). APO 922, Townsville, Australia. APO 921, Unit 2, precise location in Australia unknown (APO 921 main office was at Adelaide River, N.T.).
Military Postal Markings Special Service Datestamps
U.S. Army Postal Service Varieties and Unusual Usages
bho AMERICAN RED CROSS
_ ss 8/3 Ralph Jones 174th Finance Disbursing Section APO 565
APO 867, Viex Fort, St.
Lucia.APO 935Annette
Island. Alaska APO 565,
Hollandia.New Guinea Lt. Fred Golden
155th Finance Disbursing Section
Amny Postal Service special purpose ("registry") daters occur in several styles. As they did not have space for a time slug,
those that were de-numbered in 1942 had to be replaced later, or the APO number had to be added by hand.
Usage as a "cancel" on first class mail matter is not uncommon on post office (especially finance branch) mail, but it is very
unusual on non-post office mail.
Military Postal Markings Color
U.S. Army Postal Service
it. Gen. RL. Hicholberger
HQ. I ARMY CORPS, U.S.A.
OFFICE OF THE ComMANDING GENERAL
APO 501 San Francisco
APO 301, Rockhamp- General George C. Marshall ton, Australia. Note Chief of Staff, Gen. Eichelberger self- Pentagon Building, censor. Washington, D. C. USA
PERSONAL
‘ty Eu) Demmuce SA0HeQd ABSann APO 34 PM New Oeremus, La.
APO 839. Guatemala
City, Guatemala.
Inks other than black are uncommon. The most prevalent use of magenta ink occurs in Australia, while blue occurs with
about equal (in-) frequency in all theatres.
Postmarks Machine Postmarks
U.S. Army Postal Service
Agent Menno B. Rohrer i4th MP CI Det, APO 228 a % P.M., New York, N. Y. oe, -
a h
hs
The Infantrv Jourmal
GB 9 (Sor. - tpt Da typos?) ’ fx
a toy ” At ‘ ~ Po ey cs | ————— eee
—— - s . ———
aa =
HQ = APO 234 c/o PM “RE ; 3$an Francisco, Calif BP
\s 224
Fi Mrs. £.8.Wetzel 5 Military Rd.
eensored Washi
GENERAL O°FICERS MAIL RES Ea
5 i | { \ i |
ok Nn. to i ,
APOs that processed large amounts of mail were eventually equipped with canceling machines. US Army Postal Service was
the prevalent text, but size of dial and layout of this text provide several types of cancel.
APO 112, Liege, Belgium. APO 606, Accra, Gold Coast. APO 234, Guam (note General Officer mail).
Postmarks Handstamps
Miscellaneous Text/Design
Piece of front
page of The White _Falcoln,
newspaper of the Iceland Base
Command
APO 909 4Postmaster New York, N.Y.
i
Fomily Welfare Association of America 122 E. 22nd Street New York, N.Y.
yyy
5 "
Si a
7Ui B a
a c e
2
Stamps on non-first class mail were supposed to be cancelled by undated killers. The standard Post Offcie double oval
cancel, without text, was frequently (but not consistently) used for this purpose.
Mail from personnel in transit (identified by high "transit APO" numbers) was postmarked with a variety of devices designed
to disclose as little as possible.
Postmarks Machine Cancels
Miscellaneous Text/Design
“3 : = ~— —
SUaP7 Lez x“ ecg gntd- SUAS ¢ fa > pe a 7 # ey a Sn ea J
—————_SELAFION DISPENSARY Pi ou ? a ee
——— tee ONO. 829, C/O POSTMASTER 19 A5 ee
— EW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 2 anf ao a
cpl. Robert 4- fete IR
FISN- 3696037
@o.H, 1999 E. H.8B.
q#po ser Cfo RM.
SAN Faoncisdo, Cale,
_ THE HELLICRAFTER Co. 2611 INDIANA AVENUE CHICAGO 16, USA
Hoover Brothers
38 West 25th Street
New York, N. Y.
SNI9 |
mL
ae 0s While most machine postmarks used the standard "US Army Postal Service" text, many did not. The reason for this variation
in design is not known.
APO 829, Ft. William D. Davis, Canal Zone. APO 5574, transit APO (location unknown). APO 942, Ft. Richardson, Alaska
Military Postal Markings Special Services Datestamps
U.S. Army Postal Service
i a PosT Hows wl ASM. ISS OT SET Los
(69= OM Re. REFIPIG #20795. ve PM NEW. Yow iy, N.Y,
MiSs
JOSEPHINE ARENDT 90. 5
Bex 4/3
Army Post Offices operated pursuant to USPO regulations, which meant that registered mail, parcel post and other non-first
class mater was required to be stamped with a different kind of datestamp. These were provided in the regular Post Office
pattern of a double circle datestamp without killer bars.
APO 795, Khorramashahr, Iran. APO 23, Vittel, France. APO 858, Narsarssuak, Greenland.
RECEIPT FOR INSURED MAIL i a \ DOMESTIC (Includi ase ee MAI GPO __16--13286
FEES
Military Postal Markings Handstamps
BPO Postmarks
NAME, RANK AND B
Rt. Az HASLIASKY OF SERVICE
4S. mh. 33HOZI7Z
S$ Abe d
% Postmaster WEw Yak, MY,
POST CARD \ne LH. Super
Froese ce ot oe "PASSED BY ISGPLIL’ fn le arr IU K 21739 }) §] bol hig Ge Loy
CILG 1225 by A Ften 7% taarte cet) Q
. mA
Be ei CO Bee
| ARM AMO - 322 - GO M. —— f «
DSW Jd Atrece Li
fl? : 4
|
ae y | W prlttan, Jinn - Usa ‘
hee e \ >) = ry.
Base Post Offices were located so as to be able to handle mail from a number of APOs in their area. BPOs 1 through 25
operated during. Word War II, BPO 1 opening on 1 August 1942 and BPO 25 on 30 June 1945.
Most of the BPO handstamp postmarks were taken from existing APO supplies, so that design and color variations present in
APO handstamps can be found, to a lesser extent, in BPO postmarks.
BPO 2, Casablanca, Morocco. BPO 7, Port Moresby, New Guinea. BPO 13, Biak, New Guinea (very unusual placement of
APO number in bars). :
Military Postal Markings Machine Cancels
BPO Postmarks
Lo
~ pie, Leovarel (Martin 304333) Rolaliow Deh.
Base"F" APo.322-/ \s)
CPM SE Crdifern1A
The School Of Accountancy
emniienen Ronettes f Jig a AOSED 6 alts pier, oe
. af a 7
SC. es Fo en 4
LG9 Cy at
AMERICAN RED CROSS C U7 ; aN
dee. oe ) Be ae Puente Bs NH By
er aa : a Ss cy mA Lema Ct PO 520 | ud.
BLUE ENVELOPE MAIL ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
This envelope must notbe used for money or valuables; cannot be registered and will
not be censored by unit censors but by the Chief Base Censor. A SEPARATE EN- VELOPE MUST BE USED FOR EACH LETTER.
I certify that the enclosed letter was writ- | ten by me, refers only to personal or family matters, and does not refer to military or j other matter forbidden by censorship C ce é regulatio L * > 5
Tf = LEP, AC MOL. me oi VD pe (Se Jo
APO No.., rH A % ee eco dee... ole j Ce abfe (ee aaa |
W.D., A.G.O. Form No. 911 { i November 20, 1942 :
Machine cancels used by the Base Post Offices mirror the variety of those used by the APOs. As will be seen from this and
the previous page, some BPOs used both machine and handstamp cancels.
BPO 7, Port Moresby, New Guinea (unusual use to Scotland.). BPO 9, Leghorn, Italy. BPO 11, Paris, France.
BPO Postmarks Special Services Datestamps
While BPOs processed large amounts of mail, the near-total lack
of BPO postmarks designed for
registered and non-first-class mail
suggests that the only overflow that
BPOs handled from APOs was first
class mail, and that most registered
mail from APOs passed through the
BPOs in sealed bags. Registered mail with BPO postmarks is quite unusual.
PRS Postmarks Handstamps
(ee O-1AT ALU
Sgt. Edmund M. O'Keefe 12018111 U. S. Army Airways Detachment
Ae Pe O. #8024, c/o Postmaster | New Orleans, Louisiana
_ PASSED BY L_
GOOF Lo-Fi fides h FSA 2 -/8IFE TP
aay SIFI702 o7
De Bs va Pv - SF ; Me pny od7 Wh ake VIC LEP ET Gee of
ET = Bree ee vee
Postal Regulating Stations operated overseas to control and route mail between the US and the Base Post Offices. About 30
PRSs operated during World War II, but many of these were in service for under 6 months. Mail bearing PRS postmarks is
much scarcer than mail bearing BPO postmarks. Thus far only handstamps designed for first class mail have been observed.
PRS 8, Tacloban, Philippines. PRS 10, Albrook Field, Canal Zone. PRS 9, New Guinea (Oro Bay or Biak).
Confusing Stateside Mail Army Post Offices
= —~ a Sit ae —— ~ s — = Se
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM |
tF NOT DELIVERED IN 7 DAYS RETURN TO ABOVE ADDRESS
SS ke Epa ‘ d "tape
oe” pate ttr4 etn
fl. PO. Y 37 Vd Vogt warts,
onl ate | Ap cay te, Cabs foritee
Y J
| MW y Det bar, ae Vt onk, boots Dip ratevande
Se natal a anaes "~<
WAR DEPARTMENT PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID
PRESS SECTION (G-2) PAYMENT OF POSTAGE $300
31ST DIVISION CAMP BLANDING, FLA.
CFFICIAL BUSINESS
is epiror: [fv Vie x Laat] Thins
NEWS MATTER 4 dS t ot oe fH Ai
ae: il
Most military mail originating in the Continental United States was sent through civilian post offices and bears a postmark either from a town nearby or from a branch post office maintained a military facility. This mail is very common and outside
the scope of this exhibit, so no examples are shown here.
The Army Postal Service did operate a few post offices in the United States. Each of the Ports of Embarkation had an Army
Post Office to regulate the flow of mail to and from APOs overseas. The San Francisco office is the only one for which a postmark is recorded. Additionally, APOs were used for mail originating from maneuvers in California, Georgia, Louisiana
and Tennessee.
Stateside Mail
‘3 joastt gor? co aN 9 5
. \ go
Return address
on back.
Mail to and from intelligence sensitive operations
‘<THE STATE LIFE INS
Undercover Addresses
INDIANAPOLIS 6
overseas was routed through appropriate offices in Washington, D.C. The
origin of the top cover remains effectively obscured, but it clearly came from abroad evidenced the presence of an Office of
Censorship cellophane censor tape. The second cover is identified to the US Mission to the USSR by its (very unusual) free
frank and censor handstamps.
Stateside Mail Undercover Addresses
Manhattan Project
a bull (£19 6778
Cover dated 9 August 1945,
the date on which the second
A-bomb was dropped on
The Army used three post-
office boxes (180, 1539 and
1663) in Santa Fe, NM for
mail to and from in its atomic
bomb development facility in
Los Alamos, NM. Unlike
other mail sent within the
United States, all of this mail
was subject to military
censorship (though not all of
it was censored). Los Alamos
mail to or from foreign
countries is quite rare.
Neil Davis 2370161 C!
a choke tees oe oe
ee Santa Fe, ro Mexico
a Ua
Military Postmarks Auxiliary Markings
Lt.Ulw HQ Rear
USAF CB
APO 885 c/o P.M. Newrork, N.Y.
A wide variety of directional and informational markings
occurs on APO covers.
However, most of these
cannot be identified to any
particular APO or BPO, and
i e) aes § in fact many of them appear
PiCey Reicks Jor ee . bofnrasser to have been applied by non-
ASN 3570 Rog ** postal units. Of those that are
Ge —_se A eteatry definitely postal auxiliary $ markings, most can be tied to
Base Post Office 1.
UNITED [ae evarce
«St. Paul's Lutheran Chorch 2 ae
COR. HIGH AND VINE STS. WARREN, OHIO \
3 SS | Al pe
To) «6 88589796 e
° ae &. HA,
Captain, 138th F. Aj
} + i
Z 4 — { | a ;
FAS Hi 2 Yi s thaml a = oe dow LL A hil a “
Fo»
APO 803, Port of f fo? Spain, Trinidad
a Yar La
f
ie {
Mail to US
First Class Surface Mail
Return addressed on back "138" FA Bn., Plum," indicating that
the unit was en route for the
Philippines when this cover was mailed. (most likely from San Diego) However the unit re-
mained in Hawaii after its arrival
there on 21 December 1941.
. L
vo Lever ot: 2
ee ee
Sf/ /
\G ie Y + (A. e
From the beginning of the war until 1 April 1942 soldier's mail, regardless of mail class or point of origin had to be paid at domestic rates (3¢ per ounce for first class). The "Soldier's Mail" endorsement on the top cover was a hold-over from World
War I (where it was required for free franking), and is not often encountered in WWII. Actual payment of postage due on
unfranked servicemen's mail was a hit-and-miss affair, no doubt due to the sympathies of many of the postal clerks whose job it was to collect it.
Rates Mail to US
US Troops First Class Surface Mail
Cover return-addressed 94 Rgt.
C.A. (AA), APO 1111 on back.
This unit left New York on 18
February and arrived in Australia on 28 March 1942. The cover
was short-paid when mailed, but
not when delivered.
Ir J£, Wood, Je. 6814-5 PFOPR GLE % FOSTIAPS TER
SAN FLANCISCO CALF,
APO 916 (listed as a mailing
address only, but in fact almost
certainly an early transit APO number) and APO 502 both
Noumea, New Caledonia. "6814"
return address refers to Task Force
6814. which departed New York 23
January and arrived Noumea 12
March 1942, becoming the
Americal Division on 24 May
1942.
Public Law 507, passed on 27 March 1942 but first announced to postal officials on 1 April 1942, permitted free first class
letter (and postcard) mail to be sent to and from military personnel anywhere from and to the US and its territories. It was
required that such mail from servicemen be endorsed "Free" in the upper right corner and bear the sender's name, rank,
service number and branch of service.
Rates First Class Surface Mail
US Troops
The Women's Auxiliary Army Corps was established on 16 May 1942. However, its members were not accorded the
military free frank until 1 July 1943, when the WAAC was incorporated into the Army as the Women's Army Corps.
APO 503, Oro Bay, New Guinea.
First Class Surface Mail
The military free frank during WWII did not extend
to non-letter first class mail. Troops desiring to send parcels via first class mail had to pay for it at the rate of 3¢ per ounce.
APO 559, Elveden, England.
APO 929, Port Moresby,
New Guinea.
Rates Mail to US
Air Mail US Troops
a Lt ve va my me Lieut. John W. Stock c/o Command & Staff Force "A" A. P. 0. #803-A Trinidad, B. W. I.
Pe
VIA AIR MAIL
Mr. Chester S. Knowlson
5649 Angora Terrace Philadelphia, Penna.
Censored
, fa 8. . VIA AIR MAIL ch a igh = ;
| ai Pr. & C. erwer, \ Winder?) ae
Ud G A, Hf \ ? v
\
ee ee
a a7 The issue of reducing airmail rates for US troops abroad had been debated within the Post Office Department for about 6
months prior to Pearl Harbor. With the outbreak of the war, it was decided that the morale benefits from the extension of US
domestic airmail rates to troops abroad would be worthwhile. The rate reduction went into effect on 23 December 1941, but
it appears that the news was a bit slow in being published overseas.
APO 803-A. Ft. Reed. Trinidad. APO 804, Ft. Simmonds. Jamaica.
Rates Mail to US
US Troops Air Mail
es ke Ke are a e Oo
Orr ae a :
APO 468, 27 April | fe ve “yt a / ZL \ A De Le Ly ,
1945, ai; LAE. ay LEGS = 4
Philippines. From 17 - age giguaty abenor Cae & 2, Us e
26 April 1943 the 11" a a y) be Airborne Division, of {
which the 511" Para- chute Infantry Regi-
VIA AIR MAIL
ment was a_ part, ny 3
ded Mt. Ma- © ee A) . Ay ‘
rai ° we eet {. ‘ : = b pl be Ler La / {2 p
Japanese strongholdin ~~ Pieri
southern Luzon. From = FE. y ; ee
27 - 30 April the 511" } f CLife- Ho Jd
Parachute Infantry was ~ v
involved in the Battle
of Mt. Matassna. Mail
from units in combat is
rare.
ONT oR AR PEA _ : Ap COT ComBAT 2OVE
CO) Wy we : Ce \ roe ee j
taf 5. ; Lay
Se APO 926, Morotai, Moluccas 2 ? ?
MK. #0. EZ. i. Netherlands East Indies. The 4 : invasion of Morotai and small
Y7 Noi RT} islands nearby was
m Far Sy accomplished by the 31°
onT. Infantry Division beginning
M ROSE, Cozor ADo 15 September 1944. Little opposition was encountered,
and APO 926 was in
operation three weeks before
this cover was sent. The alleged lack of stamps in this
relatively quiescent combat “ ‘
VIA AIR MAIL zone is suspect.
Te
Non-payment of airmail postage is rare, and airmail envelopes that were inadvertently (or otherwise) submitted without
proper postage were almost always denied the service. The rare exception is mail as marked above, indicating a lack of
stamps due to origin in a combat zone.
Rates
US Troops
Mail to US Registration
APO 957, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 6¢
airmail + 15¢ registry
APO 9789, transit APO, location — unidentified. 3¢ first : Chippt class mail (not ify a. = “@ 49%} VIA AIR MAI registry fee. Posted on : : c 2° day of new rate. G- 3 TOU 0 or
SSibth GU Depot Co, 6776374 APO 9789 - c/o Postuaster New York, N. Y.
APO 719, Noem-
foor, Netherlands
New Guinea, post-
ed at APO 565
Unit 1 (backstamp 9 September 1944).
Sarmi, Netherlands
New Guinea: 6¢
airmail + 65¢ reg-
istry fee ($200.01 -
$300 indemnity).
The minimum (indemnification of $5 or less) registry fee in effect on 7 December 1941 was 15¢. This was raised to 20¢ on
26 March 1944. Covers paid for indemnification in excess of the minimum are scarce.
Rates Mail to US
US Troops Special Delivery
Sgr ime : 3rOG ¥S17
so hehe do | G
FO Pb OY Cota
= Se lal
oe j- Tey Fins ldo DASSUGS
or pAby A 323d AAA. LBn. E 2 * fe. J0b Umit 4 Soh n. cg ies
a 0633 J Sin romcrsee, Ca WF. : Tie
eS oon i Specha), Deliver: Airom : aan meat ty ae aaa a ake = Gb eters es me _ ‘ E
Yule 4 bnat ‘ed Pool 8p. ‘ _ BB2r2e 2/43 ae ; ; ES gp ee ,.
BhPo # /70F F Lf fre Me oth 72 voted [
C/o Weslonecti. bee Tre araetne a —epwere 0 -f- j pe af on. of neti
gm % 3 4. tJ
FVGEOY™ ~ y oa
AT
rani + - _ ae —_ _
P - a & = S mck : Pe oes,
The Special Delivery fee for first class mail (to 2 pounds) was 10¢ at the beginning of the war, increasing to 13¢ on 1
November 1944. This fee could be paid with regular postage or special delivery stamps. or with airmail postage + special
delivery stamps (the last being by far the least usual method).
APO 860, Reykjavik, Iceland. APO 706, Unit 1, Sterling Island, Solomon Islands. APO 17084, transit APO number
unidentified by postmark (but the first elements of the 19" Bombardment Group moved from the US to Guam during
December 1944).
Rates Mail to US Special Delivery
US Troops
Dig AS City 1 007TH le hy. 7A i. ae
PCA, 19 EH gpg
Herman A. Fehinan h
L7¢h Armd Engr Med Det
17th Arind Engr Bn
% Postmaster, NYC, NY
USA
SS
pers ve | ener eae ae a ee a
25¢ and 35¢ were in effect during WWII, and Special Delivery stamps were available
n-first-class mail, so that the use of such
bs
Special delivery rates of 15¢, 17¢, 20¢,
for some of these. However, these rates were for heavier first class packets and no
stamps on first class and airmail letters is almost certainly philatelic.
APO 211, Chengkung, China. APO 252, Rabat, Morocco.
Rates| Mail to US
US Troops Second Class Mail
Second Class mail (printed matter without additional writing, to a maximum of 8 ounces per piece) was required to be paid at
domestic rates (which, throughout WWII was 1¢ per each 2 ounces or fraction thereof).
APO 860, Reykjavik, Iceland. APO 640-A, Sutton Coldfield, England.
’ Mail to US
Parcels
GPL. A.W.STRATTON 39602871
gP.M. Nii ORLEANS La. : POs cents 90
MISS. GRACE STRATTON OF ftp as ba xs ‘
Cent ay
be: a By SHELBY, MONTANA
Ai oe ye
re - er fi cago a Jie fet” ae
ny = cor Bigteg Helmet EI" FLA RS " se 6h C
—catl
-. Mee l 5 i of 2oieg
| [PASSED BY
u Cue) s em
ARBY EXAMINER
THIS Patkace cone TAINS Ne (ti TARY
K. INFORM Area W 7 ie ES FW. ce ae —
<== — C$ Bowe Sa.
Air mail parcel post was not Nee until 1948, so soldiers in WWII wishing to send parcels home = air mail had to pay
6¢ per ounce. Surface parcel post was required to be paid at domestic rates, which varied by distance carried (starting from
the post office that the APO was "Care of"). Packages sent by first class or airmail could be registered, whereas (4” class)
parcel post could only be insured.
APO 832, Ft. Kobbe (Howard Field) Canal Zone. APO 913, Nadi Airbase, Fiji.
Parcel tag bears payment of $3.45 postage for 31-pound parcel to Zone 8 (15¢ first pound + 30 pounds @ 11¢) + 35¢ for
insurance of $150.01 to $200.00, which would be consistent with the contents list.
Rates
US Troops
Mail to Foreign Destinations
This regulation was, not surprisingly, often ignored.
APO 472, Berchtesgaden, rat ‘
Germany. APO 700, " oe
Oran, Algeria. APO 681, specie, Taranto, Italy. 7718 }}
Rates
US Troops
Mail sent via US APOs in the British Empire to locations within the Empire was required to be paid with local stamps, apparently at local rates for the service desired. Mail sent from the United Kingdom is the most
common -- though mail sent registered, special delivery and to addresses
outside GB is unusual.
at age
Gol is id Foard Trench
Cert Sea-0 Oompa Sg - So.
POST OFFICE
EXPRESS S DELIVERY
THis LETTER MUST EE POST OFFICE To BE
RECISTER
Mail to Foreign Destinations
ED LETTER. GIVEN TO AN OFFICER OF THE wie Cuveione: REGISTERED, AND A RecelpT
OBTAIN[ED FOR IT. Space on back for address THE ADDREISS MUST B
-of Sender, ne e = WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.
Je@ten POS\. LH a/
. —, iw gs Lech s 44 7 44S.
AYER p00 be o LAWES,
4
ye +B ADI *
a te
m e
Am | NAS Oa A hae
APO 813, Northern
Ireland. APO 635, Burton Wood, England. APO 558, Bungay,
England.
Mail to Foreign Destinations Rates
US Troops
T/Sgt.John J, Lynes 6135104 ee Ne
Hg.Det.Base Command me, STATES :
APO. #.810 Iceland
U.S ARMY lu
Mr.Thomas Lynes eS “a
Grand Seminary
Montreal Canada \
\(
Certain mail to Great Britain and within the British Empire excepted, US troops using US APOs to send material to non-US
addresses had to pay the appropriate rate for such mail had it been sent from an address in the continental United States
APO 810, Baldurshagi, Iceland. APO 787, Camp Huckstep, Heliopolis, Egypt. APO 661, Salinas, Ecuador.
Rates Mail to Foreign Destinations
US Troops
Pt ne O-3F6 203
bl C, 744% 4 APO G22,
Mail within Australia is the second most common
example of US APO mail
required to be franked with local postage. Mail between different parts of
the British Empire is quite
GES: Correspondence Chess a : League of Auctrala
Fig htens Forces Tourney
A. Wi lleson ins Stew ley sf
Raadsick, N.S. w, pe m a Sete i fe 2m i SS ylaaee
Pt (ALAA,
ee | |
|
ful of, t. Kec , SELN. S269 9571
Y/ Kk re ae (GA AT
APO 922, Townsville, Australia.
APO 433, Kurmitola, India. APO
584, Swansea, Wales
Rates Mail to Foreign Destinations
US Troops
{
f LYNDON E.EBERLY sr Major, A.C,
0-902029 6A #2 WM. BD, APO $62c/o Postmaster
U.S. RIRMY
e e
OaANK oF Se OT LAAD
FD/N BURGH,
SCOTLAND «x: :
gt
As with the registry fees for domestic mail, there was a rate increase from 15¢ to 20¢ for international registry service during
the war, though the date of this change (1 February 1945) was later than the date of the domestic service change. Registered
mail from US APOs to any foreign destination is rare.
(The 6¢ airmail postage paid on this cover is almost certainly incorrect, the rate from the US to GB being 30¢ per half ounce.
However, Post Office directives of 4 May 1944 and 11 August 1944, extending free mail privileges for US servicemen's mail
to British civilians, probably so confused the situation that a charge of only 6¢ for the airmail fee seemed like a good idea
when this cover was mailed.)
APO 562, Brussels, Belgium, posted at APO 556 (backstamp, 28 July 1945), Liege, Belgium.
Surface mail sent by the War Department
and its subordinate
offices and agencies was entitled to free postage throughout the war.
ae SERVICE —
ao 927
(Print namie. “in oe a5 Ke. 2408 ees
“HOOD. okey 86GB Uavasr las Oat piv. (Organization. mg
FOR EACH “FILM
eos ‘sn 44 ssa or
OC is
Surface Mail
APO 218, Myitkina,
- Burma. APO 465, ~ Calcutta, India.
(Such return address- postmark inconsis-
tencies are not unusual. APO 927, Sydney, Australia.
6-ounce airmail rate.
APO 856, Fort Bell,
Bermuda. Unusual
APO 919, Bora Bora,
French Polynesia
8 5 a |
1 i s g
S eee bao
sg <
gages han
< a
= Bae
bz g
8 " E s
m s
6 = phle
gag H 8
S s s g s e
Rates
Official Mail
Mail to Foreign Destinations
Theoretically, official mail sent
outside the US and its possessions had to be franked with stamps.
However, our allies did not require this, as long as the mail was marked in the same manner as their official mail. The British even
allowed free registration.
Army Courier Service. Rates
Official Mail
“ y e r m + )
y l
p e e l .
d a d
w y
J |
e A
“ A w a
€
*VICNI hi;
TY erty
al ‘Ta TEC
Hen
‘soTazes TBOTpem
UeTpUT
a n e n k
ieee e e
ttt 6a)
b r e ;
a
Ko
D
ssanlisha TWiDisi9
|
r a
funy $A
YI" OFF
‘ nod
[IW patty
“E UOHOO’
eH
L N I W i v d a d
UVM
delivery was to the addressee by ?
operated a system of officer couriers for the
—
i s
Bag
i) 3
NA Nar
2s \
?
r e = a N a
_SOiAwas BatanOD
AWRY
~ ~
&
courier, and postage was not collected even for air mail to
foreign countries.
APO 464, Capua, Italy (note D-Day postmark). APO 927,
transportation of sensitive mail. While this mail clearly was
Sydney, Australia.
The US Army
taken in by APOs
Rates
Official Mail
Certain official mail, especially relating to financial aspects of APO operations, was carried under the free frank of the Post Office Department rather than that of the War Department.
APO 825, Albrook Field, Canal Zone.
(Unusual cancel; LOC is typically the
abbreviation for Line of Communication.
This marking may in fact have been applied in
New Orleans. APO 877, Ascension Island.
i _
APO USE BY NON-US ARMY PERSONNEL peace
) € j ee -
ae e. Peaches Yio USM , U.S. Newal Mission, A,P.0.622 c/o Postmaster, Miami, Florida
Mus. Margaret Dorell,
79 Watkins Avenue, 2
Middletown, New York
fag A Usllescna) KY, . as Sous Parekh Otativer roe
4 2 16 the Lira Fore. ae
a FO. @27 tpoatmuaetiv, Jeet for &, Wv.4
f wala fa 4, ues s.
L iat a
\
Use of APOs by Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel is unusual because the Navy (which had operational control
of the Coast Guard during World War II) and Marines had their own postal systems. However, when elements of these
branches were placed under Army control for specific operations, or where small numbers of Navy or Marine Corps
personnel were attached to what was essentially an Army base or mission, they used the APOs connected with their parent
unit or organization.
APO 622, Dakar, Senegal. APO 627, Chungking, China.
APO Use by Non-US Army Personnel Civil Servants
of the mails to APO
608, Khartoum, Sudan.
ae ee 5 : ee & a re Ue
CAOnn Seccld Arwen . i Ss L ee oa | oe
v 27) (RapeeRehe Sete posting but carried out
APO 617, Asmara,
r Eritrea. APO 617-A
LE S appears to have been the designation for the
US Legation there. Gy Vite eas :
JOO t-te Pe Lica i,
Pour Gort Geom Ink
/ [ Edwin E, Dailey c/o American Mission
: A.P.O. 885 c/o Postmaster, New York
Sechenley International Corporation
Empire State Building
APO 885, Kabul, New York, New York
Afghanistan (scarce APO).
Prepared for diplomatic pouch before being routed Approved for pouch , through the APO. >
WBE SL,
Non-military employees of the US Government were allowed to send non-sensitive personal mail through the local post
office in friendly countries. In countries where the mail service was considered unreliable or the local government less than
friendly, they were allowed to use the diplomatic pouch. However, when an APO was located nearby, they were allowed to
use it, at domestic rates.
APO Use by Non-US Army Personnel American Red Cross
ee oe
dit.. BESKMAaN = iS
Oreo heG. Crag. ote foc word . < ; ET saa|
CEC ee Sin é : Fa UNITED STAT POSTAC =
ami < Fla i ‘- ( i i Lo ileal ice
- AM, SIMON, 30>FE ote
| AERICAN RED CROS ae 1b R}\ AMERICAN RED : = APR
“ae AQ 9a AR me ia OJ | a eo 239 0 \é, 194 ‘iting
Poskiacts Neurdak UY Ai MAL
| < 47 WV 45 o: a CERTIFIED OFFICIAL RED CROSRMAR - /)
ee
HE FLEET CLUB DIRECTOR, (402)
AMERICAN RED CROSS,
Cliff House,
Salcombe,
Devon.
While chartered by the US Congress, the American Red Cross is a private organization. In recognition of its importance to
the US war effort, however, its members were given the right to use APOs. While American Red Cross first class mail was
consistently paid at domestic rates (as opposed to enjoying the military free franking privilege), air mail is consistently paid
at 6¢ per half ounce, even after the domestic, non-military, rate increase to 8¢ on 26 March 1944. American Red Cross mail
within the British Empire was treated as APO mail by the British, giving rise to the only APO meter from World War II.
APO 605, Roberts Field, Liberia. APO 151, Maastricht, Netherlands. APO 413, London, England.
APO Use by Non-US Army Personnel Other American Civilians
ee
GERALD GRIFF IN § USO. bee ENTERTAINER } c/o SPECIAL SERVICE OFFICER
AP.O. 4945 clo POSTMASTER Eg SEATTLE, WASH.
po AL 1 PAE 1 Bae
| . Py, —~—s eee carnes er pas tet
4 . american war correspondent fy pane
_———i“‘(t;*‘«CRRR: Presse Headquarters ace “So, AMY. ase
+ APO 230 Si poe twine 2 Postmaster New York
e ) | & me i } Mrs. Cecil Carnes,
Se - =e ——————
ALF JACOBSON (civilian)
FIRST SERVICE AREA AIR DEPOT
RIGHT AIR FORCE SERVICE COMMAND
A.P.O. 813 NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK
£0 By MRS MINNIE K JACOBSON 3 1345 B. WEST FIFH STREET = GLENDALE CALIFORNIA U.S.A.
er
Certain other civilians deemed essential to the war effort -- such as members of other service organizations (e.g., American
Field Service), merchant mariners (from 1 January 1943), aircraft company technical representatives, and oil field workers in
the Persian Gulf) were allowed to use US APOs. They were required to pay domestic civilian rates, but from 22 October
1942 they were accorded the 6¢ per half ounce military airmail rate.
APO 997, Prince Rupert, BC, Canada. APO 596, France. APO 813, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
og MERICAN RED CROSS Gel SSb5 @ A
APO Use by Non-US Army Personnel Allied Forces
= = a a
eS aS | Ge ee
+ eee ttg
eelar (ff
PASSED BY |
i A
Ere
eee pace
Beginning in mid-1944, a series of regulations extended US APO privileges to increasingly large numbers of Allied military
personnel. Generally, foreign troops were to pay UPU (or other US treaty -- e.g., Canada) rates on mail to addresses outside
the US. However, British personnel serving with US units enjoyed the privilege accorded US troops on the Continent to send
letter mail to civilian addresses in GB for free (order issued 4 May 1944 in anticipation of D-Day).
APO 860, Reykjavik, Iceland. (The Norwegian force in Iceland consisted of 2 companies of Infantry. Cover is addrersed to
Canada, and the 3¢ properly pays the US-Canada treaty rate). APO 305, Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. APO 308, France.
APO Use by Non-US Army Personnel Allied Forces
-— — me : ate
Major £.Sandoval.206043. | | ai h.qsMex.Exp.Air, Force.A.P.0.710. C/o.Postmaster Sn.Francisco California.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN DALLAS. Dallas,Texas.U.S.A. . .
Major-General B. J. Vaides - Headquarters Philippine Army
APO 501, c/o Postmaster San Francisco, California
The Editor Military Review Cormand and General Staff School Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.A.
APO 74 (5 July 1945 registry backstamp), Clark Field, Philippines. The Mexican Expeditionary Air Force consisted of
Squadron 201 of the Mexican Air Force. It was equipped with P-47 Tunderbolts.
APO 500 (12 June 1945 registry backstamp), Manila, Philippines. From 1937 until July 1941, Douglas MacArthur was not a
serving officer in the US Army. Instead, he was the Field Marshall of the Army of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. At
the outbreak of the war, though technically not a part of the US Army, the Philippines Army (consisting of 7 Divisions plus
the Philippines Scouts) was placed under command of the US Amny Forces, Far East.
US APO mail from Allied forces to US addresses was carried at US military rates.
APO 700, Bari, Italy. » 2 5
nf ss
a fag APO 709, Guadalcanal, : @*. 7 Solomon Islands. xy 2
oY ~y/ x & a oS sy g
APO Incoming Mail APO INCOMING MAIL From US
During the early days of the war, philatelists were not above sending covers to
fictitious addresses in order to receive them back with
interesting markings. This cover, however, was
probably only mistakenly addressed. The 81" Inf. Brigade was at Ft. Lewis,
Washington until it was
disbanded on 14 February
1942 and made part of the 41* Division. However, the "APO 41" caused the postal clerk to incorrectly assume
that the unit was en route to
Hawaii at this time.
2019 College Avenye ‘Fort Worth, Texas.
"SERGEANT CRAYTON R. CORDON oe EE SL FA. Service “MAIL %
Cover to a_ nearly
unbelievable but legit- imate address. The
cover from Sgt. Grayson
in Java, shown later in
this exhibit, is probably
the most historically
spectacular cover in this presentation.
Preferential military rates worked in both directions, for mail to the soldier abroad as well as from him. Thus, the airmail rate
reduction went into effect on 23 December 1941. but free surface letter mail could not be sent until 1 April 1942.
APO Incoming Mail From US
ae Li ] — AT ic eepgctin tte
Ne oo epee en
Sender requests cookies, candy and shaving lotion near bottom of message.
All domestic services except 3" Class advertising material were available for mail to US APOs, though covers from second
class, special delivery and parcel post mail to servicemen are virtually unheard of.
However, to reduce the amount of cargo space being used for papers and parcels, restrictions were imposed by a series of
orders were issued from 20 April 1942 through 12 March 1943. Eventually newspapers and magazines could only be sent in response to a subscription requested by the recipient (except for subscriptions pre-dating the restrictive order) and parcels
could be sent only in response to a request made by the serviceman abroad. This request had to be documented at the post
office by production of the cover and letter in which the request was made. These were then postmarked on acceptance of the parcel by the post office, to make sure that they were not used again.
APO Incoming Mail
Civilian mail from Dutch
New Guinea to US APO
at Townsville, Australia,
backstamped by Brisbane civil post office.
era Space for F
Number *
¥ weighin, -Em
compensation.
fh os
Hy nee
_,«e Postage Cincluding wat
_ystage is sufficient for a_letier §
1 _. addressed to a place within the British
pire. . «ie Weight exceeds 1oz. or if the letter is else:
where addressed, additional postage must be paid.
Please see back of this envelope for inforfiation in regard to
pKencia,,.<0. INA.
—VFGISTERED | inataPostOflice &
_«ni® sum includes a
5; oe
| Robert tHE.
AA ORE rosea Re DNR BAe sonsnninononen
( Frud Trae Mn ace
ee eee, ee: CoS
From Abroad
Registry backstamps of
APOs 927(Sydney, entry point from Australian PO), 24 (Leyte, Philippines) and 321 (Mindoro,
forwarded from APO 24).
Registry backstamps of
APOs 927(Sydney, entry
point from Australian PO), 24 (Leyte, Philippines) and 321 (Mindoro,
forwarded from APO 24).
(pa A6 3 Af cece
Foreign mail to US APOs was sent pursuant to whatever rates and regulations were in effect in the sending post office. World
War II assessment of postage due by US APO and US Army censorship of incoming mail have not been recorded. APO
backstamps are routine on forwarded and registered mail, but not on regular first class and airmail covers.
"Provisional" censor de- vices are distinguished
from standard devices in that they tended to be used more locally, and for
shorter periods of time. They appear to be a response to the need for a censor device -- any
censor device -- and not a
response to some uniform order indicating how the censor device should appear.
In the first weeks of the
war Hawaii saw the use of
many provisional censor
handstamps, several cre-
ated by Lt. Vandergrift.
a
ARMY CENSORSHIP Provisional Censor Devices Hawaii, Alaska ——~ | ener .
Yrs. 13-A.Forte (oern
ie : = Aol DeheL ela 3
<=, uf ae at
Several dozen provisional censors are recorded for Alaska, ranging from wood-block carvings to handstamps made from
movable type. The most famous is a series made at Ft. Richardson from liquor bottle corks. The Pagoda design from this
series (above) is among the more common, but is also quite popular. Alaskan provisionals were used from December 1941
through the first half of 1942. APO 942, Fort Richardson.
Army Censorship Provisional Censor Devices
Canada
BY AIR MAIL PAR AVION
Provisionals used in Canada range from the very crude to the (more usual) professionally made. They are very closely
associated with Army Air Force units, and their usage runs well into 1943.
APO 934, Morris Lake, BC, Canada. APO 722, Edmonton, Alta., Canada.
_ Army Censorship Provisional Censor Devices
Censor Tapes
qe Som a, AP Ae.
[oo stot OX yor
ANG POG YS? |
3) AW UY
SM
AG Ga NI dO fl
Unlike provisional censor handstamps, printed provisional censor tapes are not numerous. The timing of the two examples
shown above, both from England, suggest a local remedy to shortages likely caused by the exhaustion of supplies of the
standard paper tapes prior to delivery of sufficient supplies of the new cellophane tapes. (The U-boat war in the Atlantic was
still hot and heavy at this time, and one well-placed torpedo could have sunk a very great deal of cellophane tape.)
APO 875, Kettering, England. (Cover from Army nurse, probably placed in a British letterbox to avoid US censorship, and
returned to US authorities in accordance with standard procedure.) APO 518, Ashchurch, England.
Army Censorship
AMINED BY A.
i fa . an
4
_a
x oe ATAhank
4S UD. Cary R?.O A311
Sede wrsh,
Bro 937 BP AGN. 767017819
PRSSED
ASST ADC CENSOR fot lnnia D. Hoclt.
ee == =a
Censor Devices Standard for Certain Areas
Alaska
4
During 1942 the Alaska Defense Comman used both a handstamp and a resealing tape
incorporating "A.D.C." Additionally, 4
varieties (distinguished by the shape of the
border around the censor number) of
"Military Censor" handstamps were used. These eventually gave way to the standard
racetrack and base examiner handstamps.
APO 937, Ft. Greeley, Kodiak Island. Fort
Richardson (military branch post office).
Army Censorship Censor Devices Standard for Certain Areas
Australia
i By coq and Lit 2 G.eE
LARC A _——
,
The large circular handstamp soon gave way to the USAFIA (US Army Forces in Australia) handstamp. SWPA (Southwest
Pacific Area) designated the area of MacArthur's command from 30 March 1942, which included Australia, the Philippines
and all that lies between them. The shown on this and the following page do not exhaust the subject.
\
APO 501, Melbourne (for all covers shown here).
Army Censorship Censor Devices Standard for Certain Areas Australia (and New Guinea)
i poe aioe = hy
| ti eee. ae
Ales a
i
| qo
ur ur
ex
> \ETER 5 DAYS, RETURN TO = Zz, {> Y 4,
¢ i : 2 it ie f -
me eh Mard GF Mpnig ORISI2P —
. p VARTINIE tis
Siu GhO. FAY EXAMINED By i=
8
R728 7 hstmasteg a 1) NF aah ciscc, Cah jf. = 4 f
5 a ig f aa ff. A :
0
a . ; 2)
wy i)
J / ; =
/ Ka . f fe poe Came ie
A tt. ee é al
phan tence CL
le LIf OG EPC EM
ti
US Army Forces in Australia used several types of locally produced censor tapes. Unlike the locally produced handstamps,
which gave way to standard handstamps in 1943, local tape usage is recorded into late-1944 is recorded. These tapes are also
found on mail from New Guinea (which may have been taken to Australia for censorship).
APO 703, Milne Bay, New Guinea. APO 24, Rockhampton, Australia. APO 924, Melbourne, Australia. APO 928, Milne
Bay, New Guinea.
Army Censorship Censor Devices Standard for Certain Areas
Hawaii (et al.)
Pvt.Joseph T.Komperda ,ASN33142819 TE | iq. Btry.,24th Div.Arty., . STATES APO#957, c/o Fostmaster, SanFrancisco, Calif.
eutey Likely mailed between 23 STAGE December 1941 and mid-
January 1942 based on rate
and lack of postmark dial (a security measure).
< _ Earl B. Clark, Chaplain, 251° CA. ALP.O. 915,
: i & P.M. Dells California,
Pres Omaha )\Theological Seminary, md Lothrop Streets,
Omaha, Nebraska.
i . |
is ia | | =
a - c Lene ? ieee > Oo
CHHtattte Se oeecHe;s = ’ ee Se Sen,
EE. a vo a , aaa av <A , —_ t=
The double circle handstamp shown above was the standard unit censor device for Army troops in the Hawaiian Islands from
early January through late 1942. It was also used by Army units in Fiji, Canton Island and Christmas Island.
APO 957, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. APO 913, Nadi Airbase, Fiji. APO 914, Canton Island.
Army Censorship Censor Devices Standard for Certain Areas
Canal Zone, India, New Caledonia
| PASSED BY CENSOR
AAT. LWWD E DICKQOOE ASA, ONSEN ‘ W.5, ARMY ag 9 e¥e
itZZ. OW) Pg ** eae,
\ A
& :
i hy Yo Oe
US Army troops in the Canal Zone used a single type of censor handstamp. For reasons unknown, each had part of the frame
trimmed off. Several varieties of shield censors were used by US Army units in India. (The A.C. in the handstamp above
stands for Air Corps.) Task Force 6814 brought with it to New Caledonia "Force Censor" handstamps, numbers 1 through 8.
Ft. Clayton civilian post office. APO 886, Karachi, India (APO number required in return address apparently supplied by
postal clerk). APO 502, Noumea, New Caledonia.
Army Censorship Censor Devices Standard for Certain Areas
Puerto Rico
4) 8p per paHlera! Si I oe ARMY EXizsscn |
Sg asl Se a ey. 24 “ feviaerl
ro Dan Weuireje OOS
k ft oe pi ‘ ate
a D7) wf 7 OR MiLIrary CENSOR | ae 2 pe “i / nay.
Da pn Wh Mes . f!
= 2 Pana iy, 4 af art hee
a aa ha Nn Da yt fete. Po Wecerr. Cp W.E.LEPF
‘
Alia De por Hoo. A -P0.8S7 Cr Meek,
Fo PosTMASTER, VVC,
Puerto Rico used a variety of handstamps even, as shown here, after the racetrack censor handstamps became available.
APO 846, Ft. Buchanan. APO 847, Henry Barracks. APO 851, Ft. Brooke.
Amny Censorship Standard Unit Censor Handstamps
W046. Avs Apocc2 ne . is JAN f %
JOHN P. v/00p OST, £
Wea Orleans Ve 2 |
=
PASSED BY APO 662, Galapa- gos Island, Ecuador
= (the presence of 2 1 cpmy. EXAMINER different unit cen- Bo ais SURE eae Ce P ee C sor handstamps on
5 Army & Novy ublishins }. one cover is 7 unusual).
S10 sf NW:
WASHINGTON Dse
e LOE baa 7
CALL (OL xt Zu e eed Dies F vise
ca
j — A Lp 4 x fe f, . me
CG Ger~ Sp tee 2 oF ee aar (OS as i ek ae eb GOD EBA : Ws L : ie aes
; +5 ") BY y F' < [4
sree ZZ Aad ae
APO 458, ./ J (08154 ) 4 fs Ze Palmyra Island : ») 5 Fa ae is
[Sw Cf (open 6 months A EXAI | ‘ : 7 i only; scarce). RMY EXAMINER cr ia Pa G FA?
cee ee | | x =
Gy iy amy i444 say <a
Most Army censorship was carried out by unit censors -- usually a junior officer within the unit, but occasionally a Chaplain
or even an officer patient at a hospital, etc. The procedure was to have the unit censor indicate his approval of the contents
by signing his name rank on the cover, at which point the cover would be passed to the holder of the unit censorship
handstamp for handstamping. Thus, one censor number may appear over various signatures.
The standard army unit censor handstamp employed a "racetrack" design (for the -- usually -- oval in the center. As will be
seen on this and the following 2 pages, there was considerable variation within this basic design. Most of the handstamps
used were of the patterns shown on this page.
Army Censorship Standard Unit Censor Handstamps
(4. Pla ged Hh, Lh—hlceaSe 4
: 8
ALE Gp
& -
A atetirn, 2. SO: Ch tm
APO 876. Las Piedras, 2 CR After —- 8 a
S80 opbevenoe » Venezuela (scarce APO).
Ges Canal Ao APO 811, Aruba, Nether- . ey : lands West Indies. APO
868. Port of Spain,
Trinidad.
The large-oval, low-number varieties nearly all occur in early US bases, mainly in the Caribbean. There are very few "#-A"
handstamps. These may represent replacements for lost or damaged handstamps. Use of a unit censor handstamp to seal a
censor tape is very unusual.
Army Censorship
| L. B. ANDERSON.-Je. CAPT... A.A. F, e i d
om, COMMANDING
US ARMY ARWAVS DETACHMENT B BQ. 3924
p e t a l
1 6 — 2 5 7 ° "
U. S.
EX AM IN ER
No.
|) (R e
Hi
Mrs. L.B. Anderson, Jr.
230 N. Buckeye St.,
Wooster, Ohio
os
APO 772, Marseille, France
(Undoubtedly a collection point
for APO mail to/from Poland -- though APO 777, Vienna is
more logical, and the sender
may have copied his return
address incorrectly -- as no US
APO operated in Poland during or after WWII. Cover back- stamped Warsaw and with
Polish censorship, addressed to Jugoslavia.)
> : ee i AVE ofratya Viadiwiuir » /633
OO 4i¢ ha ; . ‘ as = " 0 Al. Service Slav Oo
7Ii2 a , , 5 PPS Ae 772» | U8. army
cr
tay fet al / ley : = | 7
¢ ) i aS
he o . [B87 , t 1
i) ei as, A
a e e e
= i :
2!
% €
\ z
Standard Base Censor Handstamps
APO 825, Albrook
Field, Canal Zone
(cover from APO
3024, Mailing Ad-
dress Only -- ie.,
no postmark or fiscal facilities --
APO for Managua,
Nicaragua).
\ es MOCG
Base Examiners handled mail that was not censored at the unit level (either because of lack of language facility or the
sender's desire not to have it unit-censored). The handstamp design shown at top above was used throughout the world.
Only one sub-type, shown on the lower cover, is recorded.
Army Censorship Standard Censor Tapes
. A RB AQ AB A SB = ™ ~a A AB Mr. Robert A. Deem, Spy ee orines oe orm SPAMERIGL U. S, Engineer Office,
St. George's, BERMUDA, c/o Postmaster,
New York, N Ys
b - 8 6 Z 9 2 — 9 1
"A A W I I
"@
eg
son ' F, J. Kirchoff, re’. $38 Myrtle Ave.,
: Sone ti Garwood, N. d.,
Ves. A.
% BY AIR MAIL—PAR AVION
A. While. KAO. - 62405
Bdcaccc Dive cfervafe
Rear He. 2 Aron “Fe
BLA. ~(Eng land)
There were 2 standard types of US Army Examiner tapes used during World War II. The cellophane tape appears to have
replaced the paper tapes in mid-1943. Nearly all Army censor tapes were applied by base censors.
APO 856, Ft. Bell, Bermuda. (Bermuda is unusual in its application of manuscript numbers to the examiner tapes). APO
357, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Army Censorship Standard Censor Tapes
U. 3.
E XA MI NE R
No .
11 -4 9/ 10 0M /3 80 0
(9 49 3/ 4, P1
51 7)
HQ .
8. 0.
8.
No sub-types of the cellophane tape have been recorded, but there are at least 3 sub-types of the paper tapes, based on the
printing information (bottom line of text).
APO 813, Belfast, Northern Ireland. APO 37, Mboutini, Fiji. APO 871, Cheltenham Park, England.
Army Censorship Specialized Handstamps Press Censorship
Wt :
eee = air Foret’ Ha. Fourt see tie :
: « Office -
ae fio bostmaster a Ge co So
2 oe Q
OFRLOTAL BUSTMESS ay f} S
Sone iG Mi egeoe
ae s
Be oe City Editor: i > So DETROLT FREE. PRuss
Ee O° Detroit, Michigan ae s ee Uo So Be
i 0. Z. eS Ve Several types of press censorship handstamp exist.
Ye Tp, = we Most are from the China-India-Burma Theatre and
Z2a“4 from Gen. MacArthur's head-quarters (first in
—-Oe SS Australia and later in New Guinea and the
rca a on Philippines).
el ae oa 0] APO 627, Chungking, China. APO 500, Brisbane, er oO Australia. APO 465, Calcutta, India. Om <> c- Qo. a oO
HEAD Q UAR q ; .
INDIA BURMA; SEcrOn . i Panaliu for Prevaie Use to
INDIA THEATER, C Soa BUR 1A Avosd Payment of Post .¢ R208 APO. 4
Publishers: Minneapolis
ss a
= [oe — AQ so 8 25 m, 2> liinnesota. i ‘ Lf) mt
. coe ; ms
Specialized Handstamps Directional Handstamps
Army Censorship
eee . —_— —— ie
Major C.-L, Lancaster
_ 550th Quartermaster Group Delta Base Section
PO 772, % postmaster, N.Ye
7rd. Ora. Depe 9u, : “8 pitts Charley Steele APO 165 0/0 PM
\ WV % apes Kitchen
ATR -MATL ee Ska Gorda’ ‘, t Flori Ye a 5
23 SS f Op ‘>
(Fn eae & Le < Mr, end Mrs. L.BeWallen og —
Y) 126 S. 8th, St. ad ¢ss ‘ = Philadelphia
ia O Penna « ee
2) 4 U5 oh. | ye
¥ ee - ¥ we j J
sia
F o
tee d
Ce l
APO Ti2.
Marseille. France.
APO 465, Calcutta,
India. Plus un-
known APO in
Australia (no return : 5 ; address.) A : ee ‘ “ , SS
——
_, SANT R AHS CO Cali
Op en ed
by
US .
(¢
Probably because censorship regulations were so thoroughly drilled into the enlisted personnel (and the junior officers who
had to enforce them), instructional markings are very seldom encountered.
Army Censorship Blue Envelopes it 4 a Se os : = = ca (SS : ee ss i 5 : j sat
RMY OF THE UNITED STATES. ee ; : 2 : tered nd will wok be money Of Velaabies: cannot ; : : ss ed by : I censors, but by the Chief Military hae
"Blue Envelopes" (which
were not necessarily blue)
were issued for troops
who did not wish to have their mail read by someone in their unit.
| iFmorethcn oa er need ; : 5 ayy ate almost excues etters only one address this enclons Lae on these” ively used in the United
-- > > CHIEF MILIFARY CENSIDR, U. SaRMy Kingdom and, after D-
j ba et Day, continental Europe.
y that the inelosec letter or jette: t kine in ci fet ers Were written to errsonal oF Family matters, and ao not ane other matters forbidden by censorship regulations.
G P O
= St
UNITED STATES ARMY. | : SOLDIER'S LETTER. ee Se
oe eg ae E OE itl Nn (gree
j ee eee al MAN — *
more ee ee ro
CHIEF MILITARY CENSOR, U.S; ARMY.
Jeiter must not be used for money or valuables; canno; miered; and will not be censored by company gor ital cemsors, bus by the Chief Miliary Censor. g*
y that the inclosed letter or letters were avritidl by i
er only to personal o: faauly matters. and dojnot ©
military or other martets forbidden by seen hyp U. S.
EX AM IN ER
No.
f LEOI SIRS Grade and Signature ol writer.
SOLDIER'S LETTER. em
ITED STATES ARMY. rvaluabless cannot
ust not be used for money oy by compony OF ili not be censore
Bit by the Chief Military Censor.
ee ei Se itten by
he inclosed letter or letters were wil
Ee rerel or family matters, and do ae pele 2
er mutters forbidden by censorship regulations. 6 a
rr |
4 inclosed, ai
r 4 bat. MO tol Oa
| Ba cssacanghonestea! + = r *
/BLUE ENVELOPE MAIL MY OF THE UNITED STATES
is envelope must not be used for mone luables; cannot be registered and will e censored by unit censors but by the Base Censor. A SEPARATE EN- : ; ‘ PE MUST BE USED FOR EACH | .0o* ,
me; ADDRESS
ertify that the enclosed. Teter was writ- me, refers only te’ personal or family re pte ee eed on?
‘ters, en ae cs to military or ae al ide nd, ae matter forbidden by censorshi la-
APO 887, __ London, ; % ecgee England. APO 5, New- ;
castle, Northern Ireland.
APO 645. Silvenham,
England. APO 603,
Belem, Brazil.
Fo
, A.G.O. Form No. 911 6—20682- = November 20, 1942 : yds
Army Censorship
PASSED BY
ion) ARMY EXAMINER
re f (yw
git ean!
Censorship Anomalies
US Army unit censor
handstamps do not usually
occur on the mail of foreign forces serving under US com-
mand. Canadian Army troops .
serving in Alaska in conjunc-
tion with the counterattack against the Japanese in the
Aleutian Islands provide the
exception.
When the volume of
mail exceeded local ~ Army censorship ca- —
pabilities, the excess was bagged and sent
to the US _ for
examination at Of-
fice of Censorship
stations. Cover from
APO 914 (Canton
Island) backstamped 6 June 1942.
Enclosed letter
makes it clear that
writer has been at
this location for
some time, so not a
case of in-transit
mailing.
A d
G A N I N V X 4 A
| \ \
C. B. Nance, 34086713 Ha & Hq Det APO 914 c/o Postmaster San Francisco, Calif.
VIA CLIPPER SOLDIER'S MAIL
William L. Talbot
me Dierseaw,
CAMP DAVIS, NVC.
20 YOU KNOW 7 When planes are hard-pressed for space,
regular air mail is held up until later, or
sent by ship. V-Mail always flies.
43,000 V-Mail letters will fit into a bag
that holds only 300 regular letters.
1,800 V-Mail letters on microfilm can fit
into a space the size of a cigarette pack.
1,600 ordinary letters weigh 22 pounds;
1,000 V-Mail letters weigh only 4 ounces.
A V-Mail form has space for 200 to 250
handwritten words, about 500 typewritten
words.
Over 750,000,000 V-Mail letters have
been handled since this special service
was started.
One plane can carry as many letters
written the V-Mail way as would fill 49
planes, if written for air mail.
A letter mailed in a Midwest town, an
East Coast city, or a Texan hamlet may
travel 15,000 miles to reach a man in
a distant overseas theater.
Equipment to reproduce V-Mail letters
went into Tarawa with the second wave
of assault troops. Eniwetok and Kwajalein
became V-Mail depots within a day and a
half of American action.
LB-X-71—RPB—12-15-44_5M
SPECIAL CLASSES OF MAIL
How YOU Can Help the Mail Go Thru...
American mails always go through — but
in time of war, many unpredictable factors
delay them. Troop movements, secret fleet
operations, and the constant shifting of all
types of military activities in this vast
global warare factors that cause mail delay.
But there is one thing that you and iy you alone can control — the matter
of the address. The most discourag-
ing and usual cause for long delays is
an incomplete or incorrect address.:
Address your mail completely — clearly —.
legibly. If possible, print with a substance
that will not run, mar, streak, fade, or
smudge. Address as follows:
Sa te
FIRST LINE — Name, Rank, (and Serial
Number if Army)
SECOND LINE — His Army Organization,
or ship or Naval Station
THIRD LINE — His A.P.O. (Army Post
Office) number or Fleet Post Office
FOURTH LINE — Port of Embarkation Post Office
Pvt. John T. Jones, 1604321
V-Mail
V-mail was adopted to solve a critical shortage of air cargo space early in the war. The 6¢ military airmail rate resulted in huge volumes of mail both to and
from troops overseas. Since mail was considered critical to morale, its expeditious handling was given a high priority. While the film and labor involved in processing V-mail made it much more expensive for the government than regular airmail, the fact that
film, cameras and the people to use them were
available, and extra aircraft were not, made the
financial aspects of its use irrelevant.
Official publications promoting and explaining how V-mail helped the war effort and how it was routed.
ay ae Out going -MAIL H BASE
fe aes W. S.A A SERVES CONMMUN- Soe 1 T ICATIONS ZONE APO 500| ae E E INSTALLATIONS Mpit R
0 605
9 F F Postal Regulating Section, Part of Army Regulating = a
QO Serves Corp P Serves Arm Ee Heeiccerteus headquarters | E and corps R and Army tpoo0e R Troops A A AA RT
re zi 1; ¥ OY UNIT MAIL UNIT N APO 655 CLERK S—_ > |__cznsor . z oe COMBAT ZONE 0
2 APO 472] N Ez E
Serves Division headquarters,Division troops and attached units.
Co B QAMst 6 @ a S) a
Army A.P.O DIAGRAMMATIC CHART OF FLOW OF V-WAIL TO AND
Ne * Y FROM THEATER OF OPERATIONS ew Yi in
John Jc Z 2 LOCAL P.0. 0
U.S.N ° N E Navy Navy Wh | g embarkation Army P.O.
Fleet P; 0
San Fro | F F an Fre | F San ;
* OVERSEAS i V-MAIL TROOPS x ® STAs 2 E CHICAGO 8 R ; i I V-Mail Sta.Nosl» NeY.| U.S.AIRPORT POSTAL ; 0 VeWail StasNoe2s SeFeL___ GONGENTRATION R VeMail Sta.No.3, Chicago. CENTERS
COMMUNICATIONS ZONE “+ | aes 38
OVERSEAS ae AIRPORT
APO 704 {APO 803)
ait Owait
Special Classes of Mail
From:
SEE INSTRUCTION.
NO. 5
V ----MAIL Print the complete oddecar in plain black leftecs in the pone! balew, end your return dress Ie thes provided. Use typewriter, dark Ink. or pencil, Write pleinty. Very small ‘elle congi afer Th net ital
iddre Pt Fe 2: perm Doe sv 23456789) 0 Mes. SDD Biry. 4S SUAS aac ol 286. Sanderson St
lo Lost ea Yew York,“ M kM i Columbus , Ohio.
Seo 2, 1943
ACK THE ATTACK * WASHINGTON, 2C. SEPTEMBER 91027
MORE LET TERS FROM (OME MEAWS HIGHER MORALE - “OVER THERE
USE V-MAIL
Hew aw te advonlagu Cnityaonclence/ Le oun aiae pps on Bo deel nie
‘Be ——- fale of whe. hyping gee
Ssh te nf stent hs 4 hyeitilel unaudaly
4 pores: ee fie
me alese ade mbt oid bine ia a oe Do mepahipe ph aco
/TS PA pawn TOUSE V-MA/L
nication. If addressed to a nal letter will be dispatched
ide within marginal lines.
Hed. Addresses of members
Military or Naval address,
assigned or attached and fr or appropriate Fleet Post
drop or street letter box.
(5) V- “V-Mail letters may be sent real of postage by eviers of the Armed Forces.
When sent by others postage must be prepaid at domestic rates (3c ordinary mail,
6c if domestic air mail service is desired when mailed in the U.S.)
V-Mail
V-mail was based on the pre-war "Rekordak" process used by banks to
microfilm checks and
other documents. This
technology was first applied to mail by the British, under the name “Airgraph," and __ the
Americans copied the British procedures. Special V-mail forms
were printed (8% x 11" plus sealing tab) that
provided an address and message area that fit the film used. Letters were first sorted by destination
and then all legible V- mails for one destination were photographed onto
16mm Kodak safety film. The film was then flown to the destination (with the originals to be kept for 30
days in case a re-shoot
was required, then
destroyed), and printed
onto special photographic
paper.
Original V-mail (in this case privately printed
under Post Office
Department Permit; others
were printed by the
Government Printing
Office, but they could not fill the demand) plus
government-issued promotional V-mail
showing the size of the
processed from and the frame of film from which
it was printed.
Special Classes of Mail V-Mail
Print the complete address in plain block letters in the panel below, and your return address in the space provided. Use typewriter, dark ink, or pencil. Write plainly. Very small writing is not suitable.
j | No. a ~
| (Sender's name)
| (Sender's address}
(CENSOR'S STAMP) : = / (Date)
AFTER — DAYS RETURN TO - : 7 2a
phe Mobted WY orem -F123R65% gare Bort Ga Biot = dg. \
APO 631 % PIM. NY, NY- \~.
£>
_ Mas. SSOARTHA SF ORRIS OY
-=—~47) Sreoeman AVE,
20 gain rae, Mats ge JS. A, :
Troops overseas were usually able to obtain the red/white V-mail forms printed in the US. However, especially at holiday
times, shortages resulted in the issuance of non-standard forms by local commands, some of these in unusual colors. The
yellow/white color scheme has been found so far used only from India. The black/white form (without a printed back) above
was issued in Hawaii, but such forms have also been found from other locations, mainly in the Pacific Theatre.
Special Classes of Mail V-Mail
i= Set CE TKING ASH FLITE ~.,
/¢1 Gm Laer Aion SBE ei igs y,
ALB TES BINS MY \o, /
\/ O47 eee
ed | AFTER DAYS RETURN TO—
IVS. GEO ( Cyrate Sohn Sey, SS5IS3 609 “
PI £
S SFL
AFTER DAYS RETURN TO—
N 2 BY Am what
Y SS f <J ay At patenraee rs \ . v5
i: { SADR NS ENF
i \ k
a : ae i SiG . ARRAY FYAMINED -f : — ;
EN TS ; a
C1 A, DX 4 WirwwMtn>
orn
V-mail from servicemen could be sent free, in which case it would (normally) be filmed and the film would be airmailed the
to a processing station in the US for printing. Free-franked V-mails would proceed from that point by surface mail while
those that had been franked at the 6¢ rate would proceed by airmail.
Occasionally, when there was adequate air cargo space, or where the original was for some reason (e.g., text written in pencil,
text outside filmable area, or lack of address on the inside), the original form would be sent on to the addressee.
Mail from France (APO 758), Canal Zone (APO 828) and New Guinea (APO 929).
Special Classes of Mail V-Mail
WAR & NAVY PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AvoID
DEPARTMENTS NT OF
SS eg ae on
ee a ae ee S
ee
Q V--MAIL SERVICE _
is)
| ) a ceed
OFFICIAL BUSINE:
WAR & NAVY --— == oes IN EARS
y WW,
Rev. Vincent Plassenthal Se. DEPARTMEN ‘s ty
— V-MAIL SERV(GE CCT 2 <>, St. Meinrad,
paliealeted Lica SA 9302 M =
Indiana 2. = S
ae iii OFFICIAL BUSINESS /9 4 A.
alae
6 MoviTonw
EMBARKATION ARMY POST OFFICE penaviy wom asivate ua ve.evole PO CA me oon 2 ENT OF POSTAGE. $300 © WECA FALLS Apo
V-MAIL SECTION
NEW YORK, N. Y. ;
OFFICIAL BUSINESS geo PM Sy ee as “te ,e™ Fe ¢ S coe eel
Vainte
ad*At = NY
QCct. a, 444 (Bate)
THE INCLOSED V-MAIL LETTER 15
RETURNED BECAUSE 1T WAS UNDE-
LIVERABLE AT THE ADDRESS SHOWN
OR TO WHICH FORWARDED,
The majority of processed (i.e., photographed and printed on photographic paper) V-mails to the United States was sent
under the military free frank. These were placed in a special \V-mail envelope with penalty indicium. (Many envelope types,
differentiated by differences in die-cutting and typeface, exist.) Airmail envelopes for processed V-mails (used when the
sender had affixed 6¢ in stamps to his form) are much less common. By far the scarcest of the Stateside V-mail envelopes,
however, are the ones used to return a V-mail to sender after a failure of delivery abroad. These are specially die cut to show
the return address, rather than the address.
small writieg bs
From ; Lreed Lt VOWIEE 4
Cae V-Mail To .
fosgok LACHOWwIc#
2/4 So. Warrew Str
> BERWICK P. ZS.F
Special Classes of Mail (Senter s eddeen)
Polish Forces se
257. SY Dete)
PRINT THE COMPLETE ADDRESS IN PLAIN BLOCK LETTERS IN THE PANEL BELOW, AND YOUR RETURN ADDRESS IN THE
SPACE PROVIDED. USE TYPEWRITER, DARK INK OR PENCIL. WRITE PLAINLY. VERY SMALL WRITING IS NOT SUITABLE.
R E S
- A O S
%
: x Vy oO. =< 7 >) £ ve Ne o af a? OBES Za.
we ei SENDERS NAME -
. x : ies AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE | / 1 Pie Mirror, SENDERS ADDRESS Sa \ 255 B, 454m. St. A.P.0. 464, ¢/o Postmaster, | //_
BY: New York = e, ; DOC. 24.29 ve = p ‘
CENSORS STAMP Si J DATE J yp
ee
Ja et ;
2 a : 7
& / : : A d go oS
J = Sq
D — — = a5 ee o
a —\ “Ben se y 5 _ herd 9) — (1 TUE) y
SF a a e i / (MM =k LAX, 2 } / VJ
ees ae a ee = \Gece ae ee
ic Eiht SSS 0 OL 2
= SEL -- 7 _— ee He ee a Fs d @ /q
GREETINGS FROM fHE A-F’S IN ITALY eo.
1 9 4 4 Aq iA
Beginning April 30, 1943, US civilians abroad who had APO privileges were also allowed to send V-mails. Through a series
of 6 orders covering successively larger groups Allied troops were also allowed to use V-mails for correspondence to the US.
The American Field Service V-mail is rare. Shown above it is a processed V-mail from a Polish soldier in Italy.
V-Mail Special Classes of Mail
re i tial ere ie
fi dark Wah. ov dark pesill Palal ar small wvitiog 4
4 for Japaa tenes
levees. Mother
Sill get o real
Feo
Processed V-mails delivered overseas are relatively uncommon. Even troops in rear areas had weight limits on what they
could bring back at the end of the war, and correspondence does not appear to have been high on the list for most of them.
Envelopes were used for processed V-mails in Great Britain on a fairly routine basis, and these had to conform to British
postal regulations by showing "postage paid" Envelopes from other areas are very uncommon (top cover is most likely from
Morocco,)
V-mails to soldiers on the European continent were usually delivered as self-mailers, being folded at the bottom rather than
the top to cover up the message, with lines of glue at other side which make them appear to be faulty when they are not.
Special Classes of Mail War Ballots
Af i On necticut
(State)
ly 91303 }) §
5
NAME AND COMPLETE
MILITARY, NAVAL, OR MERCHANT
MARINE ADDRESS
Mat.B. 0 Buck -0-u eg¢236. 37 CE LO Heseitéa | APO~ S65" ~ AO Sn Faith d,p.
OFFICIAL ELECTION WAR BALLOT—VIA AIR MAIL
SECRETARY OF STATE or Corwmeahte wt
BART E ORD Aevy
16—39188-1 ts
Legislation for military participation in the 1944 elections, in addition to being much more timely than that for the 1942 _ elections, took into account the need for airmailing of requests and ballots. The first request-for-ballot card shown above is a
1942 request form with additional printing added (in red) in 1944 to reflect this change. Second example was completely printed in 1944,
Special Classes of Mail
DRESS OF SENDER
EPP Molin. Zehnshiy ae. | Bhry 3: TELARC. us Bod
War Ballots
OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT FREE OF : : POSTAGE
| Including Air Mail =
a ‘ (War Ballot)
neneeceotenaneesenennecerene
Name of elector
24 Goshen Ste,
“Ww ae of election ae en ballot is fo be cast
i | Street and number of elector’s voting Tesidence:
Borough
Twn | __NEW LONDON. Borough
State of Connecticut
War Ballot return envelopes vary in format from State to State, with the
vast majority being long envelopes.
Above examples sent from
Kwajalein, Marshall Is. (APO 241) and Guam, Mariana Is. (APO 244).
Special Classes of Mail
The addressee was killed
during the heavy, often
close-quarters fighting in the Huertgen Forest,
Germany.
/ / ve
/ / / / | / / / ? ;
War Ballots
/ < /
AQ A f
Envelopes used to send the requested ballots were
also entitled to free
airmail. Examples that
were sent overseas are
relatively scarce, and the
typical example found
today will be one that was returned due to the loss of
the addressee.
Special Classes of Mail
The US Army did not maintain a telegram service for its troops. However, it is clear that private
telegraph companies benefited from the presence of US soldiers in areas that they served, and that they worked with the US APOs in their areas to get the messages delivered.
Top: Paris post office to 11 BPO (Paris) to APO 655 (Wiesbad- en, Germany).
Bottom: Paris post office to APO 887 (Paris).
Special Classes of Mail POW Mail
Mail To POWs
Note: Bottom cover most likely
not returned because of form of ~
address. This handstamp is © routinely encountered on mail to
US POWs that had not been
delivered prior to the end of the War. As the POW was no longer at the address indicated, the easiest
disposition of the letter was by |
return to sender.
Mail from the US (and its possessions) to US POWs was initially required to show the addressee's name, branch of service.
POW number and country of imprisonment. In late 1944, in response to German objections to patriotic stamps and slogans
on POW mail, the Post Office Department directed that all POW mail be sent in an inner envelope so addressed, contained in
an outer envelope addressed "Postmaster, Prisoner of War Mails, New York, New York." While some people did in fact
follow this directive, more mail is seen addressed in the earlier manner, even from late-1944 until the end of the war.
Special Classes of Mail POW Mail Mail To POWs
PRISONER OF WAReROST = ——— . t on Bi ees ae |
Se KRIEGSGEFANGENENBO@ST 9 pre we eae DES PRISONNIEBS (OE A@UEBRE i
ie ue BY AIR MAIL ee a PAR AVION PRB. kDe. P-€2/
PRRCH/IM -STPLBEILE
RANK AND NAME P&C‘ KENNETH M. KOLB, (CAPITAL LETTERS) UNITED STATES PRISONER OF WAR.
PRISONER OF WAR No, .._.0'78450 ea. (SEE NOTE ON FI_AP) 7 sare ar :
CAMP NAME AND No, “=S2# we pee". 07" 408 : a’ we ee SS
S SUBSIDIARY CAMP No. Lele Genbaanats i, MECKL wo see or
COUNTRY _. nes cies GERMANY,
Ve VIA NEW YORK, N. Y.
NER 2 x = —_ et li na
HS. FE PRISO ERE. WAR POS? 1-1 —ses7age FREE KRIEGSGEFANGE NPCS ~eon Gi: BUHRENEREL--“[
“T-PRANG DE A i= SERVICE DES PRISGNNIERS DE GUFRRE |
INDICATE NATIONALITY U.S. BRITISH CANADIAN OTHER Specify)
OF PRISONER OF WAR | [A] I CJ CJ NAME AND GRADE OF PRISONER OF WAR PRISONER OF WAR No.
on ; -T
Ver] HA ppgvs J oMASZE WEL ADDRESS a
[RECUR oe eu pk a 6S YON ; i SS Wyvern =
TOWRITER GA | le eons gS J AIPAN SA
VSAM = ase ——
es VIA NEW YORK, N. Y.
On 9 May 1944 an airmail lettersheet for use to US POWs was made available to the public. Initially these required 6¢
postage, but on December 14, 1944 they were allowed to be sent for free. Probably to reflect this change. but also to include
the relevant text in Japanese. a revised lettersheet was issued in December. 1944. Examples of the later used to Asia are at
least scarce, and no example has been seen which was actually delivered, due to the slowness of getting mail to Japan and the
end of the war earlier than anticipated.
Special Classes of Mail POW Mail
Mail To Internees
24 aN — AATLED 0/2 Wes. 1.0 May 1948
Saft Pouwk cs Satine 1%,/03a,207
US soldiers who were found under arms in neutral countries were incarcerated as "Internees" rather than “Prisoners” of war.
Practically, the neutral countries in which this occurred were limited to Switzerland, Sweden and Turkey, to which US
airmen with a choice (that did not include returning to Allied territory) flew in preference to going down over Axis territory.
As both of these countries were subject to considerable German diplomatic pressures throughout most of the war, early mail
to US military internees was handled differently than mail to POWs. While free postage was still allowed, the mail was
directed through the G-2 (Intelligence) section of the War Department General Staff, without naming the place of internment.
Mail handled in this manner has been observed for the 1026 US internees in Sweden and the much more numerous group of
US internees in Switzerland. Only by tracing the name of the Internee can an identification of the country of Internment be
made. The above cover was for an Internee in Sweden, where the "Classy Chassy" carrying Sgt. Sorenson went down on
April 9, 1944, due to weather and radio failure. Fewer than 10 (and probably fewer than 5) covers from US internees in
Sweden are recorded. It is likely that the number of covers to US internees in Sweden is in this same range.
Special Classes of Mail POW Mail
Mail From POWs
mek _
PaemihtIb.an 7. Bae Zine fon, ae oie sae ‘ TRISOME of WAR
Ei Sofia, Biclgaera
S| ees =
NOT Coe
- ‘ et des COL ARENCE Cee Ke
B2 | Ke Ae Dee son Av Ene a an Se
om Ne w ey te ee
_ 4 a mir ie 3 5) * : sf fb c 5 i ae ; wn 3 ~ SE SaSan ee GneReeie. <:
; . Kriegsgetangenenpost a : ae cae
ian | Postkarte “p .; ey
An
| Val t.. Dlidstaatales .
Gebiihrenfrei! *
} Absenders
Vor- und Zuname:
Pard tb? bas ghtuder) ee 8 StraBe: Math
CEE op eouieamer: Es
U SierBovednnang: FY) i, ‘ f a
~<//¢ M,-Stammlager Il B Land: ; o ee If, Landesteil (Provinz usw.)
#e, & G : @ Al vischland (Allemagne)
Under the Geneva Conventions, surface mail from US POWs (and military Internees) was sent free of postage. Airmail had
to be paid for from Italian-controlled and (until December 1944) from German-controlled territory. Airmail was never
allowed from Japanese-controlled territory, and the few examples of US POW mail from other Axis countries has all been
surface mail.
Scarcity of US POW mail is, in ascending order, as follows: German-controlled areas, Japanese-controlled areas (scarcity
varies widely within this group), Italy, other Axis countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia).
Special Classes of Mail POW Mail —— : Ss _— Mail From POWs
Card at left is
ree ; ae handstamped Ma Rai,
Hy : lo for Malaya, and is from
cb aa sae . a member of the 131"
ee “4 ae Field Artillery Regi-
a M RS Base A. A. GOR DEON ment, captured in the
i ee Dutch East Indies in
a : February 1942. At the time he sent this card he
was in the Changi POW camp, later made (in)famous in James
Clavell's novel, King Rat and the film which followed it.
Except in Japan and
Taiwan, only Gen- eral Offficer POWs
were allowed to send
letters. On Taiwan,
even the few enlisted
POWs could send
letters, as shown at
right.
Mail from US POWs under Japanese control was largely confined to postcards. These are available from a wide variety of
places, most commonly the Philippines and the Japanese home Islands, rarely (for US POWs) from camps in Southeast Asia.
DEFENSE AND SUPPLY SYSTEMS PACIFIC OCEAN WESTWARD
The US Army at War
Set James Wood Station *Y" APO e/o Adj General
Officially the first US troops Ft. Shafter, T. H.
landed on Christmas Island on 10
Christmas Island
«BU = DEFENSE SAVINGST—— eo
February 1942 and APO 915 e BONDSanpSTAMPSE— opened there the following day. > ) : : However. an Army unit was sent f Z } x A) Ly,
there in December 1941, oe /- Ve Oy / presumably to ascertain its utility ee. a Sereomg ook /
—_—— Copt GE. Treat 503 APS, Prod 7 ohm Lo F647 49 [: | Sa:
7 a
(CLC SB, GaN ON sy ©C_AlBQ44 See <|PoNSERVAIES ie NS i i
(2 UR &, as BSE NE 5 Go (OEM ASTER (f Se Qe |
\ GEISCO, CAKE (2 1949. Fe sce
WA HONOLYLO let R SF 0-4 ee
= i eo Qs. Aon S. (QuavTing Bo MAChe Maer
operation may have related CAIET ON to the fact that at the time -
ownership of this atoll was ; (N Ew Ee 2 SE 4 disputed between the US : ae :
MAIL U.2/. and the UK. VIA AIR
The secrecy of the earlier
In early 1942, with no reasonable hope of stopping the Japanese in the Philippines, Malaya or the Dutch East Indies, US
policy focused on stopping their drive short of Australia and Hawaii. In addition to existing bases west of Hawaii (which
were manned by US Marines), the US Army established a series of bases leading to Australia. These were, in progressively
westward steps: Christmas Island and Bora Bora, Canton Island; Tonga and Fiji; New Hebrides and New Caledonia.
The US Army at War Pacific Ocean Westward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Dutch East Indies
= : Sgt. Gordon was recov-
ered by US forces at the end of the war. Sgt. Reis was not.
a a
a ern
<i ©) : ae
Aa
EN SO
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ay ¢
,
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In January 1942 the US committed a small number of P-40s and the 2™4 Battalion, 131" Field Artillery Regiment, to the
defense of Java. By 7 March all of the P-40s had been destroyed (some still in crates on the dock). On 9 March the Japanese
conquest of Java was complete and the approximately 800 surviving members of the 131" FA. became prisoners of war.
The US Army at War Pacific Ocean Westward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Australia
: —— —— 28" B.G. was transferred from
BY AIR MAIL | : & the Philippines. From Australia it
ea SS attacked targets in the Dutch East
| | Li | Indies. On 17 March 1942 it
a evacuated Gen. MacArthur and his family from Mindanao. APO 926, Canberra.
PGs
SES SO STE ene
ee
een, Cn Ay
S > \& .
3 % 3 Sa
ee IF) ies (Prcoca Darin OprTgle
, : 4@ faehi zl hiishel re) a = 4A yA
ff } lf. ee ( / <trcése a2ceg/ ee ee Qe S 4
: , —— * 4
Ss ss iin, “ atin poe
The first US troops to reach in Australia flew in the few remaining bombers from the Philippines, on 15 December 1941. On
22 December, Task Force South Pacific, originally intended for the Philippines, arrived. The initial War Department position
(adopted 8 January 1942) was that only Air Corps, anti-aircraft and supply personnel were to be sent to Australia. However,
in early April and early May the 41* and 32" Infantry Divisions arrived, for training prior to commitment to New Guinea.
APO 501. Melbourne (opened January 1942; first US APO in Australia). In March 1942 APOs 922, 923, 924 and 927 open-
ed in eastern Australian ports to facilitate supply operations to New Guinea. APO 924, Melbourne. APO 922 Townsville.
The US Army at War Pacific Ocean Westward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems New Caledonia, New Hebrides
APO 502, Noumea, New
Caledonia (opened 13 March 1942). APO 932, Vila, Efate
Island, New Hebrides opened 4
May 1942. The 24” Infantry (Colored) arrived in the New
Hebrides on 2 May 1942.
Ste). ay bf. Apo. ah Clo Pocluatin Sen Francesco, Gh
WSs
By February 1942 the Japanese realized that they did not have the forces to invade Australia, so they decided to interdict the
Allied supply lines by taking New Caledonia, then Fiji and American Samoa. The US, recognizing the importance of New
Caledonia, sent the bulk of 17,500 man Task Force 6814 to New Caledonia where it provided the troops for the Americal
Division. A small detachment was sent to New Hebrides to guard those islands while airbases were being built.
The US Army at War
eRe J ue
APO 914, Canton Island.
Previously used by Pan-Am as a stop for the China Clipper.
APO 913, Fiji. Established on 15 February 1942 to serve Army Air Corps personnel. US ground forces landed on 13 May to
relieve the Australian garrison this island.
APO 930, Tonga. US troops
arrived on Tonga 30 April 1942.
A Sears EE hn Ke E y
Pacific Ocean Westward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Bora Bora, Canton Island, Fiji, Tonga
APO 919, Bora Bora
(opened 15 February
1942). Early APO 919
postmarks appear without day and (usually) month
slugs, and without unit
identification in return
address. The reasons for
this are not reported.
7 ffl act
Pee. (oa 5 Gonleon 28. 0§) bh Hvacuation Hospital ‘ 13939 Groeten
5 «P.O, 930 c/o Postmaster a fa ee cee
an Rrancisco F wD) yf Calif. @ BEC a aay a VIA A rh ALLE, 1%/ Saas
: Joe lit MES Chester 5 Knowlson esc
b6L9 Angora Terrace J hiladelphia, ee was
= 5 merica, eae Ee
THE US ARMY AT WAR DEFENSE AND SUPPLY SYSTEMS
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Eastern Canada and Newfoundland
Bt Gull. plarinthel Ads = 9€ 6/7777
4 bi, Luvs Ce 7 a MSs She 692 a
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GR a ae
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On 18 August 1940 the US President and Canadian Premier agreed to establish a Joint Board of Defense. In time this led to
the stationing of US forces in Canada to support the US war effort and to free Canadians for service with British forces. The
2 September 1940 Lend Lease Agreement with Great Britain provided for US bases in Newfoundland as well. Air bases in
Newfoundland and eastern Canada were important for the protection of convoys travelling to Great Britain.
APO 692, Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, Canada, opened September 1942, APO 866, Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland, opened
April 1942. Latter cover paid for quicker transmission by Canadian civilian airmail.
The US Army at War Western Hemisphere ht Defense and nd Supply —— French and Dutch Colonies
C a <7 poe
f zZ S , AIM, Wate
: Wi . - eo: £ i wn =
PASSED BY | ty S ee A Po TH
ls To Crabinaste. Ue u " i
A ee oe a mA Allen
USE. AiPd. UAE So Past enaste ae NVC.
F o
In November, 1941 the US sent troops to protect American interests in Dutch Guiana. In February, 1942 US Army troops
took over defense of the Dutch Antilles from French and British troops that had occupied them in May, 1940.
Occupation of French possessions in the Western Hemisphere was a touchier issue, as the US continued to recognize the
Vichy government until late 1942. Only French Guiana was occupied by US troops.
APO 870, Paramaribo, Surinam (Dutch Guiana). APO 811, Dakota Field, San Nicholas, Aruba, Dutch Antilles. APO 418, Gallion Field, Cayenne, French Guiana.
The US Army at War Western Hemisphere
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Central and South American Republics
a a pues ee
@ CENTS 383 CEN
AFTER 5 DAYS RETURN TO |
f oe P. Dev: Asn
CZISOB4 GE. ny 6 -eup Ke a fa f>
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Sp fasl eneste-. cer Orleans Fa
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» VIA AIR MAIL ml SS 5 : ey.
y 7
on al
toy NOKREW Epwvers
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APO 662, Beta Air Base, Seymour Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. APO 822, San Antonio, Chile. APO 876, Las
Piedras, Venezuela. APO 817, Talara, Peru. Each of these APOs opened in early 1942. APOs 822 and 876 closed in mid-
1943. APO 817 registry backstamp on the cover above indicates that reports that it was a mailing address only are wrong.
The US Amny at War Western Hemisphere
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Central and South American Republics
ype 4 4 Se SIEFES ee e see.
tes Fie 6 L4P ay. ; z : THIS SPAG i a7 a4, e5 Sox bgo8 WRITING MESSAGES
ache PEERS, “BI.
Gitln_4£+ foots.
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ph pawl Hee 4 } zZ «git y. bai
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iF lot 2 7 tee 2 Ain hea le Has 2 ok ee be
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apo fs HOLL NA AA PB Jen Cg Ge OE EEO
WOE fe ea ae pi 4 aoe ee A hy I
st Ah Ate A frac 5 ee i ey , ‘
ect. ett AEDEEC 2 $64 iz 2 , 4 Fed :
eee
Mrs. L. H. Tuttle
860 Snell Isle Boulevard Ste Petersburg, Florida
In January, 1942 21 nations met In the Inter-American Conference to adopt measures for hemispheric defense. While
passage of a resolution calling for severance of diplomatic relations with the Axis Powers was easily achieved, the touchier
issue of basing US troops was left to country-by-country negotiations. Eventually, US APOs were opened to serve bases in
Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Brazil. The principal missions of the US Army troops sent to
these bases involved coastal defense, anti-submarine warfare and maintenance of air transportation facilities.
APO 838, Rio Hato, Panama. (Note SERIVCE error in postmark.) APO 839, Guatemala City. Opening date for this APO is
sometime in July, 1942. Based on middle cover, it would appear to be after July 4.
The US Army at War Western Hemisphere
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Caribbean
—v «av «<—_~y samp ay zy get ae guy
A WH de
a Sa
| REGISTERED After 5 days, return to
} f enol Kraoir., £5.04 324, a oe bre rire oe meee
MIA FLA.
LW) LOre nn i Ist Ae. 0-4)
i a ee ee
— = —"
eG. GEORGE L. BENT ¢),¢ ® “
A ,
ie prec pam, Ce SNe PEAT NEW /YORK,’ NeYs,
we —
VIA AIR MAIL
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
ieee 5.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
ay ap se FS
'
aa
Most of the basing rights given to the US under the Lend Lease agreement were on British island colonies in the Caribbean.
In addition to providing airbases from which US planes could mount anti-submarine operations, the presence of US defense
troops freed up British troops for service in Europe. Concurrent with the expansion into British Caribbean possessions, the
US also built up and augmented its existing bases in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone and the US Virgin Islands.
APO 695, Waller Field, Trinidad. APO 632, Batista Field, San Antonio de los Banos, Cuba. APO 848, Losey Field, Ponce,
Puerto Rico.
The US Army at War
DEFENSE AND SUPPLY SYSTEMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN EASTWARD
Greenland, Iceland
RICHARD Ge FORT, CAP. Uo.
_ CO, “AM, STH MED. BN. © APO #5,U. 5. ARMY % POSTMASTER, N.Y., N.Y.
res
2 Ge
ATR-MATIecoosREGISTERE SOA at coe =|
f 1 4
24
[jae WES op ate saat SSE eee . Sia Da I
oe f
“at EVANSTON TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK | SRR Dy, SIS
e Ae
[en _
T) + best ied ie BS
On 9 April 1941 the Danish government granted the US rights to defend Greenland. Iceland, whose monarch was the King
of Denmark, had a separate government that, on 8 July 1941, reluctantly invited US troops to replace the British who had
earlier occupied the island. This was done first by US Marines, followed by Army troops in 1942. With air naval facilities
on these 2 islands, the US took responsibility for guarding convoys from North America to Great Britain.
APO 809, Narsarssuak, Greenland, opened 19 June 1941. APO 615, Ivigtut, Greenland. APO 5 (5™ Infantry Division),
Baldurshagi, Iceland.
The US Army at War Atlantic Ocean Eastward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Brazil, Ascension Island.
In 1942, with Axis air superiority in the Mediterranean and trans-Pacific routes either already interdicted or under serious
threat, the US established supply routes to Egypt and beyond via the South Atlantic and Africa. The Army supplied air cover
for convoys, for which air bases in Brazil and West Africa were built.
These South Atlantic bases also provided the first links in a series of air fields that went on to span Africa and the Indian
subcontinent. A key consideration in their placement was the 1600 mile range of the C-47 cargo aircraft in service at the
beginning of the war. Thus, while bombers could cover greater ranges, the airfields in the Brazil-to-Cairo supply chain were
spaced about 1500 miles apart.
APO 604, Natal, Brazil, the jump-off point for flights across the South Atlantic. APO 877, Ascension Island, South Atlantic.
US troops arrived 30 March 1942 to build an airfield there.
The US Army at War Atlantic Ocean Eastward eee Defense and Supply Systems Gold Coast. Liberia
bgt Foe *. putida d- D prccto eS
g/Sxt. FRANCIS J. DOUCETTS, oe S agp A. 5. N, 11039059, ~\ VK e Aa
Baos., AMEW, ATC, APO 625 U
clo Postmaster, Miami, Florida, =
ae Se
4] Lila
ist. Lt, We F e Ttelken ee om fx 4
0-335019 A.P.0, 605 iS % Miami Postmaster ; [<
Miami, Florida \oh
: : ime s/Set, Le eeersss A. 8 3221829 st. Hqe & Serv. Co. #5889
A.P.O. #601, c/o P.M. Miami . = Flerida
A. S. earl
Editer, Whe cell t=
N. Y. Herald Tribune
230 West 41st Street
New York 18,
New York APO 625 and 606, both Accra, Gold Coast. APO 601 and 605.
both Roberts Field, Monrovia. Liberia.
Accra, Gold Coast, a significant couple of hundred air miles closer to Ascension than either Monrovia or Leopoldville, was chosen as the site for the headquarters of both the West Africa Service Command and the Central Africa Division, Air
Transport Command. Monrovia, Liberia, 2000 air miles from Natal Brazil, was just within the range of early versions of the B-17 and well within range for B-24s. US troops arrived in Liberia on 6 May 1942, and US aircraft started using Roberts
Field shortly thereafter.
The US Army at War
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems
Ee Station on AMEN ATC
J S787 9FS
Ghlph. Ss Cemr Jr :.
Atlantic Ocean Eastward Belgian Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Egypt
Prior to completion of the airfield at Kano, Nigeria in late 1942, cargo
planes were required to fly via Leopoldville, to Khartoum en route to Cairo. The Kano airfield eliminated the need for the
Leopoldville operation.
APO 663, Leopoldville, Belgian Congo (from 27 March 1942 to 15 June 1943). APO 607, Kano, Nigeria (opened 2 November 1942). APO 608, Khartoum, Sudan
(opened 9 June 1942). APO 778,
Cairo, Egypt (HQ, Middle East
Service Command; in operation by
March 1942).
The US Army at War
= —— — . . A Po: +f
SGT. WILFRED A. GIBBS, UR, ASN 14141398 — AGD
U. S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE
APO, — 682 “POSTMASTER, NEW YORK, N. Y,
Prt kdvvak bd FE, Kwa fons ASN: 2014674 2 Ee EIR ENC & PestmAsler
New York; NX 8G
Atlantic Ocean Eastward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems Eritrea, Egypt, Palestine
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Mrs. Wilfred A, Gibbs, Jr. SSEDN Social Security Board es
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APO 686, Massawa, Eritrea (5
Sea-bome supplies and materiel destined for the Middle East and points north and east of there did not involve the US Army
(beyond air cover provided over the Atlantic) until it reached Eritrea. Army port units operated at Massawa, Eritrea (first
site of the US Military Mission,
Egypt. The flow of supplies for the Levant was controlled from Palestine. North Africa, which arrived before there was a US APO to serve it), and later from Suez,
December 1942 to 2 October 1943, when it was moved to Suez, Egypt). APO 682, Tel
Litwinsky, Palestine (HQ, Levant Service Command).
The US Army at War an y ——— Atlantic Ocean Eastward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems e <— wile Iran
War materiel for Russia was sent
via Iran, which the British and
Russians occupied in April 1941. The US supply chain stretched
from Abadan to Kazvin, with its
headquarters in Teheran.
cpl Cw ive ch, 22, 20%,1%
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~ PASSED BY
cWwO Clyde E. Yoder, W-21036)1
Quartermaster Branch, Supply Divisiop
Headquarters, Persian Guif Command, /¢
APO 523, c/o Postmaster, lew York
s l
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MRS CLYDE E. YODER 56 H. STREET, CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANTA
Psat hf,
APO 924, Abadan. APO 523.
Teheran. APO 535, Kazvin
The US Army at War Atlantic Ocean Eastward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems India
Kon. Albert Goldman, US-ARMY A.C 1000 Grand Councaurse, PASSED BY BASE
St Neu Dork N.S.
AUS Military Mission arrived in India in late February and a small detachment of airmen (thus the U.S. Army A.C. in early
censors from here) arrived in March. US operations in India were initially directed toward bringing supplies to the
beleaguered Indian and Chinese Armies. A major supply base was opened in the western port of Karachi on 27 May 1942,
and a second supply base in Calcutta, on the other side of the subcontinent, opened on 20 September 1942.
APO 886, Karachi. (First day cover. Mr. Goldman was the postmaster of New York and mail for the US APOs in India
came via his post office.) APO 465, Calcutta (to APO 431, Lalmanir Hat, India).
The US Amy at War Atlantic Ocean Eastward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems India, China
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APO 466, Jorhad, India (India-
China Wing, Air Transport
Command; opened June 1943).
APO 627, Kunming, China. APO
689, Ledo, India.
Initial plans had been to supply China across the Burma Road, However, Japanese advances in Burma had closed this option
by early 1942. While a new land route from India (the Ledo Road) was being built, an air supply route was arranged using
airfields in Assam Province, northeastern India, and Kunming, southwestern China. In between lay the infamous 15,000 foot
"Hump" (the Satsung range, between the Salween and Mekong Rivers). In April 1942, the first month of operation, 700 tons
of supplies were flown. By the last year of the war, planes flying over the hump averaged 45,000 tons per month.
The US Army at War Atlantic Ocean Eastward
Establishing Defense and Supply Systems United Kingdom
HQ ETOUSA, POSTAL DIVISION, AGO «= PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE APO &87, c/o PM. NYC, TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE, $500
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(<a as an 10 April 1942, London, England.
Eo, APO 634 (HQ, 8" Air Force), 15 September 1942, 2 J opened
se : U.S. A. Wellingsborough, England.
Army (and Army Air Force) troops in Great Britain were originally under a command known as US Army Forces in the
British Isles, which on 8 June 1942 was renamed the European Theater of Operations, US Army (ETOUSA). From 24 June
1942 this command was headed by Dwight Eisenhower. US Army Air Forces in the UK were combined into the 8" Air
Force, the first large detachment of which arrived in England on 12 May 1942.
The US Army at War Atlantic Ocean Eastward Establishing Defense and Supply Systems United Kingdom
set J. E. Sandness
Hq Btry, lst pn, 15ist FA
APO-813 c/o Postmaster New York, N.Y. ~
Northwestern Natioml1 Bank & Trust co.
Minneapolis, Minnesbta
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Throughout 1942 and, as it was decided, 1943, the Allies lacked the men and materiel necessary to mount an invasion of
continental Europe through France. Consequently, the United Kingdom was first developed as a giant unsinkable aircraft
carrier and as a staging and training area for US troops (who eventually became so numerous that the British were heard to opine that they were great fellows except that they were over-paid, over-sexed and over here).
The first US Army troops arrived in the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland on 26 January 1942. British postage was used on mail to the US because US postage was not initially available.
APO 813, Belfast. APO 34 (34" Infantry Div., the first troops to land in the UK), Omagh, both in Northern Ireland.
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS WESTERN HEMISPHERE
The US Army at War Alaska
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Attu and Kiska, in the western Aleutian Islands, were occupied by the Japanese on 7 June 1942, at the height of their
conquests. From 11- 29 May 1943 the US, at a cost of 550 killed in action, retook Attu from the 2400 Japanese defenders.
On 15 Aug 1943 US forces landed on Kiska only to find that the 5000 Japanese troops had been evacuated by submarine.
APO 726, Attu (opened 23 May 1943). APO 730, Kiska (opened 17 September 1943).
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS EUROPE AND AFRICA
The US Army at War Egypt, Libya
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The first offensive actions by US Army forces in Europe and Africa during World War II consisted of air raids carried out
from Egypt and, subsequently, Libya. On 12 June 1942 US bombers originally destined for China flew from Egypt for the
first raid on the oil installations in Ploesti, Romania. With the fall of Tobruk on 21 June 1942 the defense situation in Egypt
became critical and additional US bombers and fighters destined for China were diverted to the defense of Egypt. These and
additional aircraft were used in the Allied offensives that began from El-Alamein on 23 October and from ports in Morocco
and Algeria on 8 November 1942.
APO 696, Cairo, Egypt (HQ, 9" Air Force). APO 785, Alexandria, Egypt (opened 30 November 1942) and Gambut, Libya
(from 4 January - 21 April 1942).
The US Army at War Europe and Africa Offensive Operations England
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Except for the participation by 50 US commandos in the Dieppe raid of 19 August 1942. offensive action from the United Kingdom by US Army forces prior to 6 June 1944 was confined to air activity. While 6 US bombers participated in a British attack on the Netherlands on 4 July 1942, the first combat operation by an 8" Air Force bomber squadron did not occur until 17 August 1942. US air power in England rapidly escalated through 1944, as reflected in the increasingly high numbers assigned to the aviation Groups.
APO 634. Wellingborough. (Mailed from APO 872, Wymondham. The 44" Bomb Group arrived in England piecemeal in August-October 1942 and entered combat in November 1942. It particpated in the famous 177-bomber low-level raid against Ploesti, Rumania on 1 August 1943.) APO 637, Walford (HQ, 8" Fighter Command; mailed from APO 527, Elveden). APO 644. Sudbury.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria
Convinced that they did not yet have the strength for a successful invasion of Europe, but needing to draw German forces
from the Russian front, the Allies invaded North Africa in a combined Anglo-American effort under Gen. Eisenhower.
Eisenhower moved his command from England to Gibraltar on 5 November, and the invasion began on 8 November 1942.
The principal ground combat units to invade North Africa were the 1* Armored Division, 1*, 3%, 9 and 34” Infantry
Divisions, and the 2” Battalion, 509% Parachute Infantry Regiment. The landings in Algiers and Oran , Algeria met light to
moderate resistance, but the landing in Casablanca, Morocco was heavily opposed. On 11 November resistance ceased as
French forces joined the Allies.
APO 512, Gibraltar. APO 1, Oran, Algeria. APO 3, Rabat Morocco ce Inf. Regt. landed at Casablanca 8 November 1942).
The US Army at War
Offensive Operations
UNITED
APO 536, Tebessa
Algeria
Mr. C. H. Holt
Employment Department
Kodak Park Works
1669 Lake Avenue
Rochester, New York —
Europe and Africa Tunisia, Algeria
On 14 February the 168° Infantry Regiment, 34° Division, was cut off by
the German advance. Most of the regiment was able
to exfiltrate to US lines on
the night of 15-16 Febru- ary. However, the non-
walking wounded were not able to make it. In the
US Army, during combat
members of the regimental
band served as stretcher-
bearers, which accounts
for Sgt. Whittaker's
capture. (Army POW
verification backstamp. )
In November the Allies lost the race for the Tunisian ports of Bizerte and Tunis, and found themselves facing a German
Army brought in from Sicily,
of 1942-43. By late January 1943 Rommel’
Tunisia, and the Germans decided to use this additional strength to cut
and the battle for Northwest Africa slowed to a crawl in western Tunisia during the early winter
s Afrika Korps had been pushed westward into contact with German forces in
off the Allied forces in northern Tunisia. The
offensive, begun 14 February 1942, succeeded in overrunning parts of the inexperienced US II Corps before it was stopped at
the mountain passes behind the town of Kasserine.
The Battle of the Kasserine Pass brought Americans face to face with the realities of large-scale mechanized warfare for the
first time. In 5 days II Corps suffered over 6300 casualties (300 killed, 3000 wounded, 3000 missing in action). The
replacement depot suddenly became an important part of rear-area operations.
The US Amy at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Tunisia, Algeria
—W/Sgt. Ed Markarian
Hg 97th Bomb Group APO 520, New York City
835 No. Van Ness Ave..
Fresno, California
Giles PA rin
The failure of the February offensive coupled with Hitler's refusal to allow a retreat (which in any event would have been
difficult given Allied air superiority by this time) sealed the fate of the Axis forces in North Africa. Allied land and ground
forces hammered the Germans in an increasingly small pocket in northern Tunisia until, on 11 November they began to
surrender en masse. By the next day, over 240,000 Germans had surrendered and the campaign for North Africa was over.
APO 34, Maktar, Tunisia. APO 520, Chateaudun du Rhumel, Algeria (HQ, XV Air Force).
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Sicily
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The invasion of Sicily was carried out by the US 7th Army (Patton) and British 8" Army (Montgomery), under the overall
command of Eisenhower. The principal US ground combat units involved were the 2" Armored Division, 1", 3° and 45"
Infantry Divisions, 82° Airborne Division, and the 1“, 3" and 4 Ranger Battalions.
US forces captured Palermo on 22 July 1943 (leading to the fall of Mussolini 3 days later) and were the first to enter Messina
(to the intense chagrin of Montgomery, whose prize this was to have been) on 16 August 1943. However, by this time 75%
of the Germans had been able to escape to the Italian mainland (a failure blamed largely on ineffective use of Allied air and
naval power).
APO 758, Palermo. 14" Armored Field Artillery Battalion was part of the 2" Armored Division, which entered Palermo on
22 July. APO 3, Trapani. 3" Inf. Div. troops were the first to enter both Palermo and Messina.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Italy
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12 Blvd. Beaulin,
APO 464, Naples. APO 520,
Cerignola (mailed from APO
785, Foggia.)
ALGIERS.
Allied plans to invade mainland Italy were not firm as of mid-Summer, 1943. However, British intelligence analyses based
on Ultra intercepts predicted (accurately) that an invasion would lead the Italians to surrender shortly and (inaccurately) that
the Germans would withdraw to northern Italy. The strategic value of this move lay in securing the airfields around Foggia
and the excellent port of Naples, plus tying down large numbers of Germans so that they could not be sent to other fronts.
On 3 September 1943 British forces landed, largely unopposed, at Reggia and Taranto. The Anglo-American corps that
landed at Salerno on 9 September were not so lucky. At one point the pressure on the Salerno beachhead was so severe that
serious consideration was given to withdrawing the Allied force. Only when the German forces south of Salerno had cleared
the area did the German defenders pull back from the beachhead. At that point the Allies were able to advance fairly quickly
to Naples, which was occupied on 1 October 1943.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Italy
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The landing at Anzio, a small port about 20 miles from Rome, was achieved with virtually no opposition on 22 January 1944.
With little in the way of organized German units between him and Rome, the US commander has been severely criticized for
not moving rapidly to seize the Alban hills, about 15 miles inland. His failure of initiative is blamed for keeping the Allies
troops at the Anzio beachhead bottled up for the next 4 months under punishing German attack for much of this time.
The principal US ground forces in the Anzio beachhead were the 1" Armored Division, 3“ and 45" Infantry Divisions, the
509" Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 6615 Ranger Force (Provisional). It is unlikely that Allied forces would have been
able to hold the beachhead without strong air support.
On 23 May 1944, the Gustav line in central Italy having been breached the previous week, Allied forces at Anzio began their
breakout. On 25 May US forces coming from the south linked up with those from Anzio, and on 4 June they entered Rome.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Italy
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When this cover was sent, the 100" uP = a ‘
Inf. Bn. was in reserve following : |
attacks on Monte Cassino from 5-
13 February.
Having occupied southern Italy and having achieved the Italian surrender, the Allies realized that Rome was the only
objective with strategic value: aside from the psychological benefits of taking an Axis capital, it had another complex of air
fields 100 miles closer to Germany than the ones at Foggia.
The advance up the Italian peninsula continued through October and November 1943, US forces to the west of the
Apennines, British to the east. Due to a combination of terrain, weather and strong German resistance, the advance had fallen
far short of its objectives by the end of the year. The attack resumed on 17 January 1944, not with any real hope of breaking
through, but in an effort to draw German troops away from Rome to increase the chances of success for the landing at Anzio.
APOs 302 and 306, Caserta, Italy. APO 776, Bagnoli (from 13 November 1943 to 12 March 1994)
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Italy
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The decision of US 5° Army commander Mark Clark to send the bulk of his forces toward Rome rather than (as ordered) to
cut off the German 10 Army's retreat arguably allowed the German forces to escape to northern Italy. The withdrawal of
forces from Italy for the invasion of southern France in August 1944 left insufficient strength for the Allied forces in Italy to
penetrate the Gothic line north of Florence that year. While small-scale actions continued to be fought throughout the Fall
and Winter, the offensive was not resumed until 14 April 1945. Three weeks later German forces in Italy surrendered.
APO 34, Florence. (34 Infantry Div.; engaged north of Florence in late September 1944). APO 91, Florence. (91". Infantry
Div., then at Gagliano preparing for Po Valley offensive.)
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Sardinia, Corsica
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Following the fall of Sicily, Axis forces were withdrawn from Sardinia to Corsica, so that the Allied "inv: aoe of that island,
on 18 September 1943, was carried out by a force carried on 2 motor torpedo boats. A partisan uprising on Corsica, begun on
11 September 1943, was aided by French troops, with the only US participation ashore coming from a small OSS team.
Subsequently, airfields were developed on both islands for use against Axis targets in France, Italy and Austria.
APO 509, Cagliari, Sardinia. APO 485 (city unknown), Sardinia. APO 393, Bastia, Corsica.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations France
APOs 1, 10, Omaha Beach. Officially the first
APOs opened here on 20 June, however APO 10 is
reported to have opened as early as 12 June. Message on postcard is headed
"Somewhere in France!
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APO 472, Newbury,
England (HQ, 101" Air-
borne Division.). The 326" Engineer. Battalion was part of the 101* Airborne Division. It was
in France from 6 June to
12 July 1944. = in 7 :
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On 6 June 1944 over 70,000 Americans (and over 83,000 Britons and Canadians) landed in Normandy. At and inland from
Utah beach the US landed the 4" Infantry and the 82™ and 101° Airborne Divisions. Opposition at Utah beach was relatively
light, though the Airborne units sustained substantial casualties. At Omaha Beach the 1" and 29" Infantry Divisions landed
against fierce German opposition.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations France
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The interruption of German ability to reinforce its troops in Normandy was key to the success of the Allied invasion. Before,
during and after the landings US bombers and fighters were busy destroying bridges and railroads. When the Germans
finally did commit substantial armored units to repelling the invading forces, Allied air superiority made it extremely costly
for them to travel during daylight hours, as well as giving the Allies a significant battlefield advantage.
Until the Allies broke out of the Cotentin Peninsula in late July, all air operations were carried out from England. Each of the
units represented above supported the invasion by attacking rail lines, bridges and airfields, as well as German ground units.
APO 140, Marks Hall. APO 155, Dorchester. APO 644, Sudbury.
The US Amny at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations France
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On 25 July 1944 the Allies were finally able to break out of the Normandy hedgerows. On 1 August the armor-heavy Third
Army (Patton) was activated. Its dash across France in August and September is considered one of the greatest American
accomplishments of the war. 3" Army troops entered Paris on 25 August and Nancy, in eastern France on 15 September.
On 15 August a second front was opened in France by an amphibious and airborne invasion across the Riviera. German
opposition was light, aimed at covering retreating forces that in any event would soon have been threatened by Allied forces
in northern France. On 11 September US 7* Army troops from southern France linked up with troops landed in Normandy.
APO 403, Nancy. APOs 778 and 758, Marseille.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Netherlands
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Eisenhower decided that the main Allied advance would be northward into Belgium and the Netherlands, as this provided the
most direct route to the German industrial center of the Ruhr. It also offered the change to do an end-run around the
German's West Wall fortifications. This placed the burden of the advance on Montgomery, who had lobbied strongly to have
the main part of the Allied advance.
The most dramatic part of Montgomery's plan involved air drops in advance of an armored attack designed to cross the Waal
and Lower Rhine Rivers in the Netherlands. The US contributed the 32" and 101" Airborne Divisions to this operation, as
well as air units to deliver them and the British and Polish forces that dropped on Amhem.
APO 472, Newbury, England (HQ, 10 1* Airborne Div.) The 502™ Parachute Infantry Regiment landed at Eindhoven, the
southernmost of the 3 air bridgeheads in Operation Market. APO 205, Thatchem, England. The 436" Troop Carrier Group
carried paratroops and towed gliders for the 101* Airborne Division in this operation.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Germany
- MAJ GEN J. LAWTON COLLINS Headquarters VII Corps, APO #307 c/o Postmaster, New York City
et. Robert Rinn 32029900 Se
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As the main Anglo-American effort continued toward the Netherlands, the US 1* Army wheeled more to the right through
Belgium toward, and finally into, Germany. The first US troops crossed into Germany through Aachen on 11 September
1944 and proceeded on to penetrate the West Wall defenses at several points. However, by this time the US drive was
exhausted due to its longevity and due to the fact that it had outrun its supply capabilities. By the time the supply situation
had been sorted out, the German Ardennes offensive had de-railed the Ist Army's general offensive until February 1945.
APO 307, Aachen (from 28 November - 28 December 1944; HQ, US VII Corps). APO 9, Maastricht, Netherlands (9th
Infantry Div.) The 9" Infantry Division entered Germany on 14 September 1944. Before being relieved in mid-October it
sustained 4500 casualties to gain less than 2 miles in the Huertgen forest. It returned to the offensive on 10 December,
moving toward the Rur River, but this advance was stopped by the German offensive and the Rur was not reached until 5
February. APO 255, Waimes, Belgium (5" Armored Div.). Troops from this division (85 Recon. Squadron) were the first
American ground forces to enter Germany. 5 Armored Division units reached the Rur on 16 December 1944.
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The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Belgium
~WQ. Ha.Co. Aro. Bou.
APO 472, Mourmelon le
Grand, France (101* Airborne Division). The
401* Glider Infantry was part of the 101° Airborne Div., which on 19 Decem-
ber beat the Germans to
the important crossroads
town of Bastogne by 7
Q\. Yesrun STER New Yoru, Y Pee
pececeaige ere hours. At the time this
oe cover was sent, the divi- sion was rehabilitating in
France. On 17 December
it was released from
reserve and committed to
the Ardennes.
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The 707” Tank Batta- lion was part of the
28" Infantry Division. : Many units of this
division, widely dis-
persed, were cut off by
the initial German | attack and had to infil-
trate back to US lines.
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Hitler, against the advice of his senior military officers, conceived that he could cut off the British 21* Army Group and most
of the US 12™ Army Group in northern Belgium and the Netherlands. His hope was that a successful offensive would, at
best, lead to a negotiated settlement with the westem Allies or, at least, eliminate the threat to the Ruhr. To provide troops
for offensive action farther north, Eisenhower had intentionally thinned out US forces in an area of the front stretching south
from Aachen into northern Luxembourg, and it was this area that the German forces attacked.
The German Ardennes offensive (also known as the Battle of the Bulge) began on 16 December 1944 against 6 US divisions
(9 Armored, 24, 4%, 28, 99% and 106" Infantry Divisions). Ultimately 29 German and 33 US divisions were committed to
the battle. US counterattacks began as early as 24 December and by 28 January 1944 the German bulge had been eliminated.
US casualties were over 100,000, including 19,000 killed and 15,000 captured.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Belgium, Luxembourg
Me Se eo fee S60/
CHL Chrenter Mawmes |° é 3 = Q “4d Ak Ao rcemsie | gen
‘ ; NSA ae aad N\A POW
APO 80, St. Avold, France (80" Infantry Div.; 3° Army). Assembled at Arlon, Luxembourg 20 December. Intermittently
fought off German attacks and advanced through northern Luxembourg, 22 December 1944 - 27 January 1945
APO 260, Dudelange, Luxembourg. (10° Armored Div., 3" Army). Moved from Alsace to Luxembourg City 17 December.
Engaged at Bastogne 19 December. Relieved in Luxembourg 26 December.
APO 257, Hoensbroek, Netherlands (7 Armored Div., 9" Army; transferred to 1“ Army 17 December). Defended at and
westward of St. Vith from 16 December to 29 December.
APO 30, Kerkarde, Netherlands (30" Infantry Div. 9" Army; transferred to 1* Army 17 December). Defended at Malmedy-
Stavelot sector from 17 December 1944 - 12 January 1945, when it began advancing. Relieved 26 January 1945.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Germany
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Hitler's failed gamble in the Ardennes not only lost that battle, 100,000 casualties and 800 tanks, but so weakened his eastern
front that the Soviet offensive begun on 22 January 1945 made great gains. Troops were moved back from the west to meet
this challenge, which in turn severely weakened German resistance to the Allied offensive begun on 27 January. US forces
first crossed the Rhine on 7 March (9" Armored Division, at Remagen). At this point, while strong resistance was
encountered in isolated areas, the Allied forces in the West were able to move far and wide. Berlin was not entered only
because that honor had been left to the Red Army. US and Soviet troops first inked up near Torgau on 25 April.
APO 154, Aachen, Germany. The 4” Cavalry Recon. Squadron (Mech.) re-entered Germany on 4 February 1945. It reached
the Rhine on 5 May.
APO 262, Baumholder, Germany (12 Armored Div.), Crossed the Rhine 27-28 March at Worms. Elements of this division
crossed into Austria on 3 May 1945 and the division was advancing on Innsbruck on 3 May when it was placed in reserve.
The US Army at War Europe and Africa
Offensive Operations Germany
7/3 Charles J. Demuth Beals!
to. 94 Int Diw BPO 94
c/o PM New York, N. Y..
| PASSED BY
BRUCE A. de BOURBON-CONDE Captain, Infantry O- 3g Ott
4-2 Sec, HE AVI Corps (Airgoawe) APO 104
cfo Pm Ma 1K, MY,
Gen. Jodl signed the instrument of unconditional surrender of all German forces on 7 May 1945 at the Allied Headquarters at
Reims. This was ratified at the Soviet HQ at Berlin just before midnight on 8 May. Officially all fighting was to cease at 1
minute after midnight on 9 May, but limited resistance continued in Austria and Czechoslovakia throughout that day.
APO 94, Dusseldorf (94 Infantry Div.). In June this division was moved into Czechoslovakia.
APO 109, Uelzen (XVIII Army Corps).
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER
The US Army at War
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APO 487, Dinjnan,
India. APO 218,
Myitkyina, Burma.
The participation of US ground combat forces in the China-Burma-India Theater was limited, as the main body of troops
under US command came from the Chinese army. The first US unit, the 5307" Composite Unit, Provisional, (also known as
Merrill's Marauders) was formed from volunteers in India. It provided a long-range penetration and was used extensively by
Stillwell in his campaign of 13 February - 3 August 1944 to seize Myitkyina in northern Burma. This unit was disbanded on
10 August 1944 and its survivors were transferred to the 475" Infantry Regiment.
The 475" Infantry Regiment, 124" Cavalry Regiment and the 612" and 613" Field Artillery Battalions were, with the 1“
Chinese Separate Regiment, formed into the 5332™ Brigade, Provisional. The 475" Infantry and 124" Cavalry fought in
northern Burma until April and May, respectively, often behind enemy lines and relying on airdrops for re-supply. Covers
from any of the units mentioned above are very scarce.
China-Burma-India Theater The US Army at War
India Offensive Operations
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The peculiar needs of jungle warfare over wide areas in Burma gave rise to the need for a different sort of air Group than the US Army Air Force employed elsewhere. Two Air Commando Groups were formed in India, the 1* on 25 March 1944 and then 2™ on 22 April 1944. These combined fighter, liaison (using L-1 and L-5 aircraft and, in the case of the 1* Air Cdo.
Gp., helicopters) and troop carrier squadrons. The Air Commando Groups supported British, Chinese and American troops with drops of supplies and men, evacuation of wounded, and attacks on enemy positions.
APO 690, Ondal. APO 493, Kharagpur.
The US Army at War China-Burma-India Theater Offensive Operations China
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On 4 July 1942 members of the American Volunteer Group were inducted in the US 10" Air Force on the expiration of their contracts with the Chinese government. On 6 July the China Air Task Force was created (subordinate to the 10" A.F.) an on
8 July Gen. Chennault, late of the AVG, took command of this Force. On 5 March 1943 the 14" Air Force superceded the
CATF, with Chennault in command. The 14” A.F. combat units operated mainly in China.
The 23” Pursuit Group (later 23" Fighter Group, of which the 74" Fighter Squadron was a part), was activated in China on 4
July 1942, its initial personnel coming from the AVG. (Lt. Mitchell, however, was not one of the AVG alumni. And, while the APO 627 return address indicates Kunming, China, the censor handstamp suggests that this cover was mailed from India,
probably while the sender was en route to join his new unit.).
APO 430, Kweilin. On 27 July 1943 the Chinese-American Composite Wing was activated under the 14” Air Force. This
wing consisted of Chinese aircraft and pilots trained under lend-lease, with additional American personnel.
The US Army at War China-Burma-India Theater Offensive Operations China
7 Pe. Dies ~ i f Ja Cer
tw
Lf —~—y aa The US did not deploy any ground combat units in China. However, it did provide advisers and liaison personnel for the Chinese units under Stillwell's command. The US also provided Office of Strategic Services personnel to lead guerilla units from China into Burma. OSS-led guerillas are credited with killing or wounding over 15,000 Japanese in Burma.
APO 627, Kunming. (Y-Force was composed of the US-equipped and -trained Chinese divisions that made up most of the Allied forces in northern Burma.)
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS SOUTH PACIFIC AREA
The US Army at War
Cell — ae f ey wi may
AMERICAN RED CROS f4
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14 oe The 164" Inf. Rgt, Americal Division, arrived on Guadal-
canal 13 October 1942. Its
first combat was in defense of
Henderson Field. It was
joined on 12 November by the
182"? Inf. Rgt. USMC unit 750 was the 21° Marine Fighter Sqdn., based at Hen- derson Field. Cover above in-
dicates that an APO serving troops (Army and Marine)
was open at Henderson Field
by mid-November.
The 35" Inf. Regt, 25" Inf. Div., landed on 17 December
1942 and entered combat on 7
January 1943.
In March 1942 the Pacific was divided int o 2 combat commands: the Southwest Pacific Area under Gen. MacArthur and the
Pacific Ocean Area under Adm. Nimitz. The POA was further divided into South, Central and North Pacific Areas. Most of
the Solomon Islands, originally in the SWPA, was transferred to SoPac in July 1942, which accounts for the strong Marine
Corps presence in operations there.
On 7 August 1942 Guadalcanal was invaded by US Marines in the first US ground offensive of the war. Between 13 October
‘and 8 December the Army's Americal Division was committed, and on 8 December 1942 the Army took control of the battle.
The 35" Infantry Division entered the battle in December and January. On 9 February 1943 the island was declared secure.
The US Army at War South Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Russell Islands. New Georgia. Rendova
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On 21 February 1943 units of the 43" Infantry Division landed on the Russell Islands, about 30 miles north of Guadalcanal.
Japanese airfields on New Georgia threatened both Guadalcanal and planned operations in the northern Solomons. The battle
for New Georgia began with the landing of the 4 Marine Raider Battalion on 21 June 1942, followed by the 103™ Infantry
Regiment the next day. The island was secured on 25 August 1943.
The 172"¢ Infantry Regiment landed on Rendova on 30 June and secured the island on 2 July 1943. It remained on Rendova
until March 1944 except for the period 27 August - 25 September when it was in combat on Arundel Island.
APO 292, Russell Islands (HQ VII Island Command). APO 43, Russell Islands and New Georgia (43 Infantry Division).
The US Army at War South Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Bougainville
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CHARLES APLEPHART 1331 WEST 6TH. AVE. | ~~
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: COLUMBUS, (8) OHIO
The battle for Bougainville, in the northern Solomons, began with the landing of the 3™ Marine Division on 1 November
1943. The Army's 37” Infantry Division began landing on 8 November. On 6 January 1944 the Marines were replaced by
the Americal Division. Later in 1944 both Army divisions were replaced by Australians, who were still fighting on the island
at the end of the war.
APO 37 (37® Infantry Division) and APO 716 (Americal Division), both at Bougainville.
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA
The US Army at War a 7 uid Australia, New Guinea
ut Gen R L Hichelberger HQ. I ARMY CORPS, U.S.A. OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
APO 301 San Francisco
Adjutant, A.E.F.Sibéria Veterans, 6034 S.. LaBrea Ave wos Angeles 43, Calif. USA
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In early 1942 the Japanese had set out to capture Port Moresby, New Guinea, from which they could more easily threaten the
supply lines to Australia. Australian troops had contained the Japanese 30 miles short of their goal. The arrival of the US
32™ and 41° Infantry Divisions in Australia gave the Allies the forces necessary to begin offensive operations in New
Guinea. These divisions were assigned to the US I Corps (Eichelberger), which became responsible for Allied operations in
New Guinea.
APO 301, Rockhampton, Australia (HQ, I Corps). APO 929, Port Moresby, New Guinea.
The US Army at War South West Pacific Area
Offensive Operations New Guinea
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2: Z The 32"? Infantry Div. participated in the Battle of the Buna-Gona Beachhead (19 November 1942 - 1 January 1943) and in
actions along the northeast coast of Australian New Guinea in January 1943. In January 1944 it assaulted Saidor,
Netherlands New Guinea. It continued in New Guinea action through September 1944, at which time it began staging for the
Philippines invasion.
Rugged terrain and jungles, plus the need to counter Japanese aircraft based in New Guinea and at Rabaul, New Britain,
made air power essential in New Guinea. The 5“ Bomber Command controlled all US Bombardment Groups Australia and
New Guinea. The 8" Fighter Group moved to New Guinea in September 1942 and supported Allied ground operations as
well as providing air defense.
The US Army at War South West Pacific Area
Offensive Operations New Britain
The ultimate goal of the campaigns in the Solomons and in New Guinea was the capture of the massive Japanese base at
Rabaul, on the eastern end of New Britain. The US 1° Marine Division invaded at Cape Gloucester, on the western end of
the island, on 26 December 1943. They were replaced by the 40° Infantry Division on 23-28 April 1944. By that time, the
decision to attack Rabaul, which was defended by 91,000 Japanese troops in excellent defensive positions, had been
abandoned in favor of moving on to the Philippines. The US forces held defensive positions until turning these over to the
Australians in November 1944. Japanese forces at Rabaul surrendered on 6 September 1945.
APO 40, Cape Gloucester, New Britain (40° Infantry Div.).
The US Army at War South West Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Dutch East Indies
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Except for Morotai, in the Moluccas Islands, US ground forces bypassed the Dutch East Indies (and British Borneo).
Morotai, however, was needed as an airbase to support the landings in the Philippines. On 15 September 1944 the 31
Infantry Division invaded. In the face of light opposition, it secured the island a few days later. Work was begun
immediately on bomber fields (the existing airfield was found to be suitable only for fighters) and in October the 13 Airforce
moved its headquarters and various combat groups to Morotai.
The 307 Bombardment Group was stationed on Morotai from October 1944 to September 1945. Earlier in the war it had
attacked Wake Island. From Morotai it launched attacks against the Philippines, Borneo and French Indochina.
The US Army at War South West Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Philippines
General Walter Rrueger =
Geadquarters Beth Acuss Office of the Commanding General.
AFO h2
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By mid-1944 MacArthur had secured control of the Army
divisions and air groups that had fought the Solomons
campaign as well as new divisions from the US, giving him eee } = Ath ke AML prada Cee
a total of over 1 million men with which to invade the : Petes a:
Philippines. Ground troops were divided between the 6" :
and 8" Armies. The initial landings on Leyte and Luzon ae on aoe
were carried out by the 6" Army. ae
MacArthur's autograph was not often given. Young Saul
Moskowitz certainly pushed all the right buttons to get one.
ae Aner hk es 194, ee 24
APO 442 Leyte. APO 500, Hollandia, New Guinea.
The US Army at War South West Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Philippines
Chewler Dyae. Lead Ws 3355 2617 deroete Op. 24th, YR: Bu
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APO 72, Tacloban, Leyte
(mailed from APO 201, HQ 1* Cavalry Div. The 44" | Tank Battalion went ashore on 20 October as a Corps — asset. When this cover waS
sent it was operating with the 1* Cavalry Div.) APO 7, Leyte (7" Infantry Division; in combat from 20
October to 156 December).
APO 321, Mindoro.
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The Leyte invasion, 20 October 1944, was carried out by the First Cavalry Division and the 7" 24" and 96" Infantry
Divisions. The island was declared secure on 25 December though mopping up continued into February 1945. Also on 25
December control of the was transferred to the 8” Army.
On 12 September a the invasion of Minroro Island was carried out by a separate command, the Visayan Task Force (19
Infantry Regiment, 24" Infantry Division, and 503 Parachute Infantry Regiment). Airfield construction was begun almost
immediately and the first field was in operation on 23 December.
The US Amny at War South West Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Philippines
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The US invasion of Luzon began on 9 January 1945 across the beaches on the Lingayen Gulf, close to where the Japanese
had invaded on 22 December 1941. The principal units involved were the 6 and 43 Infantry Divisions (I Corps) and the ci
and 40" Infantry Divisions (XIV Corps) of the 6” Army.
APO 37, 37” Infantry Division. APO 40, 40" Infantry Division.
The US Army at War South West Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Philippines. Dutch East Indies
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Air power played an important part in the decision to invade the Philippines, as Nimitz supported MacArthur's desire to
return to the Philippines on the grounds that air fields in Luzon would be necessary for the planned invasion of Taiwan.
However, the success of forces in the Pacific Ocean Area in island hopping beyond Taiwan made effectively shelved that
plan, and the Japanese surrender following the dropping of atomic bombs on 6 and 9 August 1945 quickly rendered all
further invasions moot. Bases in the Philippines did provide support for local ground operations and for bombing in support
of Australian operations in Borneo as well as strategic bombing of Indochina and China.
The US Far Eastern Air Forces command had been dissolved following the fall of the Philippines in 1942. In 1944 it was re-
activated, initially containing the 5" and 13" Air Forces. 307% Bombardment Group, flying from Morotai, supported ground
operations on Leyte and bombed airfields on Leyte, Luzon, Negros, Ceram and Halmahera Islands. In September 1945 it
began ferrying liberated Allied POWs from Okinawa to Manila.
APO 925, Leyte, Philippines. APO 719, Morotai, Dutch East Indies.
aa YT
Sgt. Norman B. Prince ( 12007574 )
Station Hospital, AP O #7 457
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OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS CENTRAL PACIFIC AREA
The US Army at War
Baker Island, Gilbert & Ellice Islands
JH. JOHN KR Cs PELAND-~J3061437 SRA. ERT Zh FO0N, CoA ST 7 ES e4, AQMWION APO 240 LP py SANFRANCISCO, CALIE
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The Central Pacific Area was one of the 3 sub-areas of the Pacific Ocean Area commanded by Adm. Nimitz. This led. as in the South Pacific Area, to a great deal of the land combat being carried out by the US Marine Corps. It was in this Area that the concept of "island hopping" came into its prime.
The initial operations in this area were against the atolls of Tarawa and Makin in the Gilbert Islands. To assist these landings. airfields were built on Baker Island and on the atoll of Funafuti (in the Ellice Islands). The capture of Tarawa was a Marine
Corps operation. The capture of Makin was effected by the 165 Infantry Regiment, 27" Infantry Division, between 20-23 November 1943. Airfields were developed on both atolls.
APO 457, Baker Island. APO 240, Funafuti, Ellice Islands. APO 459, Makin, Gilbert Islands.
The US Amrmy at War Central Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Marshall Islands
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Army operations in the Marshalls were directed against the atolls of Kwajalein and Eniwetok. Kwajalein was invaded by the
75" Infantry Division on 1 February 1944 and was declared secure on 6 February. Eniwetok was captured by Army (106
Regimental Combat Team, 27° Infantry Division, landed 19 February) and Marine forces in action lasting from 17-21
February 1944.
APO 241, Kwajalein. 50 Combat Engineer Battalion landed 2 February.
APO 243, Eniwetok. 9g AAA Gun Battalion (Semimobile) landed on Kwajalein 1 February, later transferred to Eniwetok
The US Army at War Central Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Mariana Islands
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ye - y for dropping the atomic - Ve bombs on Hiroshima LF ZAI atlers, : and Nagasaki. It arrived
ve on Tinian in May 1945. Pies
The invasions in the Marianas in which Army troops took part were of Saipan and Guam. Only Marines went ashore at
Tinian. Bombers flying from each of these islands could reach both the Philippines and the Japanese home islands.
The initial invasion of Saipan was carried out by Marines on 15 June 1944, with elements of the 27" Infantry Division
joining the battle between 16 - 20 June. The island was declared secure on 9 July, though the 27" Infantry Division continued mopping up through August.
Guam was invaded by Marines and the 77" Infantry Division on 21 July 1944. The island was declared secure on 10 August but mopping up my Army forces continued well into 1945.
APO 27, Saipan (27" Infantry Div., of which 102" Engineer Battalion was a member). APO 246, Guam. APO 247, Tinian
The US Amny at War Central Pacific Area
Offensive Operations Palau Islands
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The September 1944 invasion of the Palau Islands represented a detour in the drive toward Japan, but it was seen as
necessary in order to provide additional forward air bases from which to support MacArthur's impending operations in the
Philippines. The capture of Angaur was carried out by the 81" Infantry Division between 17 September and 21 October
1944. Pelileiu was first invaded by the Marines on 15 September. On 23 September the 81* Infantry Division contributed
the 321° Infantry Regiment to this battle and on 16 October it took over responsibility for the Island which was declared
secure on 27 November. Meanwhile, elements of the 323™ Infantry Regiment (also 81" Infantry Division) were sent to
occupy Ulithi Island (22-24 September), and to take the atoll of Ungulu (9 October).
Elements of the 494" Bombardment Group moved to Angaur in late September to help build the bomber field there. The
Group began combat operations from that field on 3 November 1944.
APOs 81 and 264, Angaur.
The US Army at War Central Pacific Area
Iwo Jima Offensive Operations
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(opened 14 March Ev Me poe,
1945). Py I-17 —_ bec é
Iwo Jima was captured between 19 February and 16 March 1945 by US Marines. The island was viewed as critically
important as a base from which fighters could accompany bombers en route from the Marianas to Japan, and on which
bombers unable to make it back to the Marianas could stop short. Securing the island cost the lives of 5,593 Marines, but in
addition to the lives saved by the fighter escorts that flew out of Iwo Jima, 2,251 bombers carrying 24,781 crewmen were
able to find a safe landing there. (The first B-29 emergency landing was on 4 March, while the battle was still in progress. )
The 7° Fighter Command moved to Iwo Jima in March 1945, as did the tT Fighter Group (26 March).
Marines captured the first of 4 airfields and on 25 February it was ready for emergency use (1* landing On 20 February the
AAA Gun Battalion, which landed on 25 February, was one of the first US Army units on Iwo Jima. on 1 March). The 506"
The US Army at War Central Pacific Area
Offensive Operations , Okinawa
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Okinawa was invaded on 21 June 1945 by the US 10" Army, consisting of the Marines' III Amphibious Corps and the
Army's XXIV Corps (the main units of which were the 7, 77 and 96 Infantry Divisions). The island was declared secure on
21 June 1945. Once cleared, Japanese airfields were put into service by American fighter aircraft supporting the attack.
From 1-5 May the 77” Infantry Division was engaged in the Battle of the Maeda Escarpment. On 4 May the 306" Infantry
Regiment fought off strong Japanese counterattacks. The 902™ Engineer Aviation Battalion landed on Okinawa on 2 April.
APO 77 (77® Infantry Division) opened on Okinawa on 15 April, APO 331 in May. APO 902 on 15 June 1945.
The US Army at War <5 Central Pacific Area
Offensive Operations ==" — Okinawa, Ie Shima
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First day of APO 337 on Okinawa and its first registered cover. Also,
very few examples of the 21" ‘
Postal Regulating Station postmark are known. 2
a) ‘ 7 ee . /SGT. D.R, DOUGHERTY “4 208h07) ae SUSTH N.F.SQDN. &.9.0. 25 oes C/@ P.M., SAN FRANCISCO oe
BRIEF © un A.P.0. 953 -
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Ie Shima, about 4 miles off the west coast of central
Okinawa, was the site of a Japanese airfield. It was
captured by troops of the 77° Infantry Division between 16 and 21 April 1945. The famous war correspondent Emie Pyle was killed here by Japanese sniper fire. APO 245 opened on Ie Shima
sometime in May 1945.
The US Army at War Japan
Offensive Operations
7/5 M Howard 39725537 ©
Co A lst Bn GH2, AFPAC APO 500
% PM San Francisco
Capt Carmen Rossi AGO GHQ AFPAC APG 500 :
% PM San Francisco
Special V-dJ Day Cancellation for General Feadquarters Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Wa TF fh Ge. Col. G. S, Lander G=2, Generdl Headquarters SUPREME COMMANDER for the ALLIED Army Post Office 500 TS ok San Francisco, Calif. a
Lieut. Margarethe Brandt, ANC N~767351
89th Field Hospital
A.P.O. 73 B
San Francisco, Calif.
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On 2 September 1945 General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan,
presided over the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri. Special Tokyo Bay postmarks had been authorized
for Allied warships in Tokyo Bay at that time. Not to be outdone, someone in MacArthur's headquarters had a special cancel
made for APO 500, the main office of which was still in Manila.
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