SA: 1941 SAAF MALAKAL (SUDAN) CRASH: Somewhat charred censored envelope with contents franked GB KGVI 10d tied APO cds 7 XI 41. Addressed to Natal and accompanied by the orange OHMS "ambulance" envelope, APO 2 cds 17 XI 41, in which it was ultimately delivered to the addressee. Also with Army Postal Service notice advising "The accompanying letter was unfortunately partially destroyed by fire after the mail had been handed over by this Service for conveyance to its destination. PJ Pyper. LtCol. Army Postal Service, HQ, EA Command. 15 Nov '41" A superb example of this very rare crash mail of which there are only six recorded surviving items, of which only three have the accompanying Postal Notice. A crash mail showpiece. Ex Jeidel & Polakow. 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.
