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Image (above): These were the nation's first civilian airmail pilots. The fearless five were (left to right) Edward Gardner, Captain
Benjamin Lipsner, Maurice Newton, Max Miller, and Robert Shank. They formed the nucleus of the Post Office Department's
Airmail Service when it took over mail flights from the Army.
On May 15, 1918, the United States officially established its airmail service with inaugural flights between
Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City. Army planes and pilots were used on the first flights.
Three months later, the Post Office Department took over airmail operations with planes and civilian pilots
of its own.
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Eddie Gardner and Max Miller
Two of Lipsner's star pilots were Eddie Gardner and Max Miller. Gardner, an automobile racer before he discovered flying, died while stunt flying at a county fair in Kansas in 1920.
Miller, the first pilot hired and the star of the group died when his plane caught fire and crashed on September 1, 1920.
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The Suicide Club
Thirty-five of the pilots hired by the Post Office Department were killed while flying the mail. In recognition of the dangers they faced, airmail pilots gave themselves a grim nickname — The Suicide Club.
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Jack Knight
U.S. airmail pilots were a hardy and brave bunch. Out of the dozens who flew, however, one name stands out above the rest. Learn how Jack Knight helped save the airmail service.
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Lindbergh and Earhart
Two of America's best known aviators had connections to the airmail. Charles Lindberg was an airmail pilot and Amelia Earhart flew airmail unofficially, as a way to raise funds for her flying adventures.
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Flying the mail was risky business. During the nine years the Post Office Department operated the Airmail Service,
there were more than 6,500 forced landings. On the average, airmail pilots had a life span of only about 900
flying hours. Postal officials insisted that these early airmail pilots take off despite poor flying conditions.
Neither snow, nor fog, nor winds, nor torrential rains were expected to delay them in the swift completion of their
flights. This attitude did little to improve the image of the Airmail Service, which at that time was considered
little more than a "Suicide Club" for flyers.
The Museum's airmail exhibit, Airmail in America, highlights the contributions of the daredevil civilian pilots who risked their lives to fly the mail. In all, 32 pilots were lost, including four who died when their planes caught fire in flight, thirteen who were killed when their planes crashed into obstacles, and ten who perished when their planes burst into flames while making emergency landings. Despite the odds, a handful of daring pilots rose to the challenge.
Lipsner was the nation's first Superintendent of Airmail Service. He was responsible for managing the fledgling
flying service. He hired its first pilots, selected all early air routes, and supervised the initial acquisition of
planes. At odds with his superiors when they insisted that flights be carried out during extremely bad weather, Lipsner
resigned in 1920.
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