These are just a few of my collection, I have more if there is any interest in seeing them.
Here is a link that explains what V-Mail is.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/v ...
Here is an example of the envelope that was used for V-Mail.
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Nice collection, Vinland. The pre-designed, pre-printed V-Mail letters haven’t had as much interest for me as those transmitting personal, hand-written or typed letters. I have several from an American soldier who was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, a.k.a. The Battle of the Ardennes Forest, and another that his parents sent to his commanding officer but was returned in a special V-Mail envelope more from his parents.
The one most important to me was mailed by my dad’s younger brother, Phil, from the South Pacific where was in command of a small detachment of radio repairmen who flew from island to islands keeping the communications network in good repair. My short web page, "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham", discusses the history and usage of V-Mail.
Bob
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Something else that I'd never heard about until one of you sent me an example as a gift with some stamps I bought - very interesting stuff!!
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I've done a little sorting of my father's letters home during WW II and have come up with a very unscientific time line of the V-mail that was used during that time. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Rgt, 9th Infantry Div.
These are 3 letters written from 8 June - 8 September 1943.
The top letter sent to my grandfather from the area around Bizerte, Tunisia was written 8 June and postmarked 10 June from APO 9. The fighting in Tunisia had ended 13 May and the units were resting and refitting.
V Mail number 1 is similar to what we know as an aero-gram but not pre-printed like the SeeBee V Mails Vinman has shared. They are letter sheet sized (8.5 X 11 inches) and when folded for mailing are 4 3/8 X 5 5/8". It was presented to the censor sealed, the censor opened and cleared it, then resealed it and stamped the outside.
The second V Mail is what I believe is the final version. The full sized letter sheet was cleared by the censor and stamped to the left of the addressee block. The image was photographed (I assume) and reduce to 4 1/4 X 5 1/4, then folded and put in the window envelope for mailing. This V Mail was sent from Sicily, written on 14 August a few days before the official end of that campaign. It was cancelled on 8 September in New York.
This the last V Mail he sent, written 4 November 1944 while the 47th was in the Hurtgen Forest. My father was wounded on 22 November 1944 in the vicinity of Schmidt, Germany during the ramp up of the Battle of the Bulge.
The use of V Mail reduced the size of GI mails to home freeing up volume and weight for other items. The cancelling in New York freed up man hours and material resources in the areas of operation overseas. The letters my father sent home from England while preparing for the invasion of France were regular letter with Free franking. While in hospital in England after his injuries he had to pay the 6 cent Air Mail rate.
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Bob,
I have maybe a dozen V-Mail letters but they contain notes that they are doing well and thanks for the letters or package. Due to the censoring not much of interest for the postal historian. I enjoyed your your "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham". It has personal meaning for you. My fater enlisted in WW2 September 1944 and only served state side so no V-Mail from him.
Like you I have an interest in hand written or typed letters from WW2. I have a growing collection of Return to sender, "KIA or MIA". I do a little research into to deceased soldier and circumstances about their demise. Fairly simple today with the internet although WW1 information is a little sparce. I feel like I am doing a service for their sacrifice. Since their letters have hit the market place there might not be anyone to tell their story or remember them. It is really interesting reading the debriefing of flight crews that seen an airplane go down or from the crew members after they are released from POW camps.
Vince
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I have been adding to my V-Mail or Victory Mail collection and want to share some of it here. Beside letters the soldiers of WW2 could send different greetings home by V-Mail. I have been focusing on Christmas greetings but there are many other types that could be sent. Most were preprinted but some are hand drawn by the soldiers. The ones I am showing today are the preprinted type.
These are just a few of my collection, I have more if there is any interest in seeing them.
Here is a link that explains what V-Mail is.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/v ...
Here is an example of the envelope that was used for V-Mail.
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re: V-Mail
Nice collection, Vinland. The pre-designed, pre-printed V-Mail letters haven’t had as much interest for me as those transmitting personal, hand-written or typed letters. I have several from an American soldier who was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, a.k.a. The Battle of the Ardennes Forest, and another that his parents sent to his commanding officer but was returned in a special V-Mail envelope more from his parents.
The one most important to me was mailed by my dad’s younger brother, Phil, from the South Pacific where was in command of a small detachment of radio repairmen who flew from island to islands keeping the communications network in good repair. My short web page, "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham", discusses the history and usage of V-Mail.
Bob
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re: V-Mail
Something else that I'd never heard about until one of you sent me an example as a gift with some stamps I bought - very interesting stuff!!
Login to Like
this post
re: V-Mail
I've done a little sorting of my father's letters home during WW II and have come up with a very unscientific time line of the V-mail that was used during that time. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Rgt, 9th Infantry Div.
These are 3 letters written from 8 June - 8 September 1943.
The top letter sent to my grandfather from the area around Bizerte, Tunisia was written 8 June and postmarked 10 June from APO 9. The fighting in Tunisia had ended 13 May and the units were resting and refitting.
V Mail number 1 is similar to what we know as an aero-gram but not pre-printed like the SeeBee V Mails Vinman has shared. They are letter sheet sized (8.5 X 11 inches) and when folded for mailing are 4 3/8 X 5 5/8". It was presented to the censor sealed, the censor opened and cleared it, then resealed it and stamped the outside.
The second V Mail is what I believe is the final version. The full sized letter sheet was cleared by the censor and stamped to the left of the addressee block. The image was photographed (I assume) and reduce to 4 1/4 X 5 1/4, then folded and put in the window envelope for mailing. This V Mail was sent from Sicily, written on 14 August a few days before the official end of that campaign. It was cancelled on 8 September in New York.
This the last V Mail he sent, written 4 November 1944 while the 47th was in the Hurtgen Forest. My father was wounded on 22 November 1944 in the vicinity of Schmidt, Germany during the ramp up of the Battle of the Bulge.
The use of V Mail reduced the size of GI mails to home freeing up volume and weight for other items. The cancelling in New York freed up man hours and material resources in the areas of operation overseas. The letters my father sent home from England while preparing for the invasion of France were regular letter with Free franking. While in hospital in England after his injuries he had to pay the 6 cent Air Mail rate.
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re: V-Mail
Bob,
I have maybe a dozen V-Mail letters but they contain notes that they are doing well and thanks for the letters or package. Due to the censoring not much of interest for the postal historian. I enjoyed your your "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham". It has personal meaning for you. My fater enlisted in WW2 September 1944 and only served state side so no V-Mail from him.
Like you I have an interest in hand written or typed letters from WW2. I have a growing collection of Return to sender, "KIA or MIA". I do a little research into to deceased soldier and circumstances about their demise. Fairly simple today with the internet although WW1 information is a little sparce. I feel like I am doing a service for their sacrifice. Since their letters have hit the market place there might not be anyone to tell their story or remember them. It is really interesting reading the debriefing of flight crews that seen an airplane go down or from the crew members after they are released from POW camps.
Vince
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