SA: 1932 IMPERIAL AIRWAYS Inaugural Flight First Regular Airmail Cape Town - London: January 27th, the so-called "Lost Airmail": EXTENSION TO DELHI VIA CAIRO Envelope franked block of six 4d Airs (varieties "short I" & "spot betw A&F" on two) tied Cape Town cds 26 JAN (registered mail was postmarked the preceding day to the flight). relevant registration & arrival marks. Registration slip as insert. SIGNED BY PILOT, CAPT RF CASPAREUTHUS. VF, a scarce signed cover thus. Ex Barry Smith. Unfortunately the inauguration of this service was marred by misfortune. On takeoff from Salisbury the northbound "City of Basra" was damaged; Thereafter the relief machine "City of Delhi" made a forced landing in a swamp 50 miles south-east of Broken Hill. The crashed machine was temporarily lost and, when found, it's mails were transferred by native carriers to Broken Hill where they were forwarded northbound together with the second Cape Town to London mail which had left on 3rd February.
