Kingsford Smith, Charles; Charles Thomas Philippe Ulm.

First Aviators to Cross Pacific: Kingsford Smith signed cover [with] CPT Ulm signed cover.

Oakland Cal. 1930. Signed covers by the famous Australian flying team of Charles Kingsford Smith (1897 - 1935) and Charles Thomas Philippe Ulm (1898 - 1934), the first to fly from California across the Pacific, a distance twice that of Charles Lindbergh's trans Atlantic flight.

The two Australians along with 2 Americans (Harry Lyon and Jim Warner), flew in 1928 in a 3 engine Fokker the 'Southern Cross' from Oakland, California to Brisbane, Australia. The route was via Hawaii and Suva (Fiji) to Brisbane, and was completed in 83 hours, 38 minutes. The journey was challenging: on the first leg the navigator was forced to navigate by dead reckoning for 2,000 miles, and on the leg to Fiji there were violent storms which forced the plane to fly just above the waves.

Kingsford Smith was later awarded the Air Force Cross and appointed honorary squadron leader, Royal Australian Air Force. Ulm was flying California to Hawaii in 1934 when his plane disappeared; Kingsford Smith was fling London to Sydney when his plane vanished in 1935.

The Kingsford Smith cover is from the Pacific Coast Aeronautical Exposition, Oakland Airport, June 28 to July 6, and signed at the left side, with the cancellation stamp dated July 2 1930, and with a 5 cent airmail stamp. This Oakland exposition was held from June 28 to July 6, 1930. The Ulm cover is also signed at the lower left, with a typed line of text which reads, "C.P.T. Ulm-Australian Pilot- Lost on Pacific Flight. The Ulm cover is not postally used; the envelope printed with a red and blue alternating pattern of biplanes. Very good condition. Item #22708

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