Page 64 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1929: Stock Market plummets and Great Depression starts; St. Valentine's Day Massacre

in Chicago; New York Museum of Modern Art opens; CBS founded; Martin Luther King born.

At the RPSL: Dinner held to celebrate 60th anniversary of the Society, celebrate its new

home and bid farewell to President TW. Hall. Lichtenstein presents display of Newfoundland.

RPSL Presidents were TW Hall & WD Beckton. Patron H.M. King George V. Membership 518.

FIRST FRENCH TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT

COVER SIGNED BY A STOWAWAY

From the collection of Anthony Fandino.

Member since 2003. Lives in England.

Other nations had flown the Atlantic. Now three French aviators wished the honor of the first French

crossing and - in a French plane, the Bernard L'Oiseau Canori (Yellow Bird). Despite the French Air

Ministry's ban on Atlantic flying due to heavy loss of life, they took off on 29th May 1929 from Old

Orchard, Maine bound for Paris. They could not understand the planes sluggishness, tail heavy and

dangerous nose high flight, until a young American calmly presented himself to the crew. Landing in

Paris they prevented the stowaway's arrest claiming 'He shared our risks and is one of us now'. All

three of them signed this cover carried on the flight.