UK: No Air Letter Service to the US in May 1946

With the sole exception of the 1934 Iraq air letter issue, the United Kingdom was the first country to issue air letters for civilian use on June 18, 1943. Initially, the use of air letters was restricted to countries of the British Commonwealth.

Air letter (UK #4) sent from Droxford Southampton (20 MY 46) to Rosedale, US.
Franked at the 1s 3d air mail letter rate up to ½ oz, as the air letter service to the US was not yet established in May 1946.

The Imperial and Foreign Air Mail Leaflet, May 1946 edition, Supplement No. 5, published in January 1947, states: „The sixpenny air letter service is now available to the United States of America“.