Arago: Pioneer Period (1783-1918)

The Columbus (Georgia) Ledger newspaper sponsored an aviation meet at the Driving Park (Columbus, Georgia) on December 12-13, 1911.

Charles F. Walsh (1877-1912) flew about 1,500 pieces of mail during the two days in a Curtiss biplane. The mail was flown from the postal substation at the Driving Park to a point outside the park, where it was dropped to awaiting postal officials. The officials then delivered it to the main post office for dispatch.

The cover shown is one of very few surviving pieces from this meet. Mail exists with postmarks of the 12th and the 13th, with year dates of 1911 and 1912 (in error). This cover is postmarked December 12, 1911.