Tag: postcard

Another postcard sent from grandpa to grandma while he was stationed in France with the US Army Air Force during World War II.  This one is dated 31 Jan 1945, and grandpa notes on the back that “I have visited this place.”  This place is the Chateau d’If, famous for having been a prison island, and during WWII, it was invaded by the German army.  We can see from the front that a word was cut out of the postcard, likely the location name, Marseille, although the back has an inscription by the printer, “Edition La Cigogne, 18, Rue Glandeves, Marseille,” which gives away the location anyway.

This was a postcard sent from grandpa to grandma, dated 2 February 1945.  Grandpa was in the Army Air Force and was sent to France during WWII.  The front of the card has been censored with the city name cut out, presumably because the Army didn’t want family back home knowing where exactly they were, but the back of the postcard states this was the Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille, France.  In the bottom right corner on the front is “La Cigogne” which is also printed on the back, presumably the card printer, with an address that locates them at 18, Rue Glandeves.  No stamp is on the back since mail was free for the armed services.

Another one from Grandpa’s time spent in Texas with the Army Air Force.  The postmark on this is 15 April 1942, and he sent it to grandma before they were married.  There’s no stamp since members of the military can send mail for free, simply by writing “Free” where a stamp would normally go.  The front of the postcard shows the scene on Main Street in Victoria, Texas, and I managed to find the location by searching old newspapers for Huvar Cash Grocery on the right.  They were located at 216 S Main Street, so from there, I found the Google Map posted below.  The scene has changed quite a bit since 1942, but let’s appreciate the men in hats on the left, the cars, and all the signs on the buildings.  The whole mass of buildings on the right of the postcard appear to have been demolished and turned into a parking lot, so it’s neat to see what was once there.

This postcard, addressed to Grandma from Grandpa while they were dating, shows the hangar line at Randolph Field in Texas.  The postmark on the back is 19 August 1941, and has a one cent George Washington stamp on the back.  The return address shows grandpa stationed with the Recruit Detachment.  The photo on the front of the card is titled “Hangar Line, Randolph Field, Texas” and shows a line of planes in front of hangars.  If I were a betting woman, I’d say these are probably the North American OA-47 planes, and you can find more about the planes here.  Grandpa wrote on the back, “I am sending this card so you can see some of the airplanes and hangars.”  He wasn’t a pilot himself, but spent time there as a new recruit.

Just a quick one today.  This postcard was sent by grandpa to grandma with a postmark date of 7 August 1941.  They were still just dating at that point since it’s addressed to her maiden name.  There’s a one cent George Washington Stamp on the back.  Grandpa had joined the US Army Air Force (before the two were separate branches).  The front of the card, at the bottom, states, “USA Formation, Randolph Field, Texas,” and shows what looks like 35 planes flying in a formation of the letters U, S, and A over the base administration building which was nicknamed the “Taj Mahal.”  The planes look to be biplanes, and quite possibly are the PT-13 which was the Air Corps primary trainer plane at the time.  My grandpa wasn’t an aviator, but I believe he was doing basic training there.  The return address states he was in the “Recruit Detachment.”  Still a neat photo, and I love the cars on the ground too!