SA: 1941 SAAF MALAKAL (SUDAN) CRASH: Somewhat charred censored envelope endorsed "Air Mail" and franked large wars 3d, 6d orange tree & 1d ship all tied Egypt 34 cds 7 NO 41. Addressed to Natal and accompanied by the orange OHMS "ambulance" envelope, APO 2 cds 17 XI 41, in which it was delivered to the addressee. A superb example of this very rare crash mail of which there are only six recorded surviving items. This is the cover of record illustrated on page 160 of Jack Burrell's "Par Avion".
On 12th November 1941, an SAAF Lodestar piloted by Eric Carrol and carrying mail for the Union crashed at Malakal. Salvaged mail was dealt with at the Base PO, Nairobi, from whence identifiable mail was forwarded. Anecdotally Major General F H Theron recovered a mail bag from the flaming aircraft and this was sent on to Nairobi. Only 6 items could be sufficiently identified for delivery.
