On 31 August 2024, we will see a reenactment of an aerophilatelic event that took place exactly 100 years ago: a courier flight from La Caquerelle (JU) to Lausanne.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a novelty rolled out onto the runway: aeroplanes were set to fundamentally change
the transport of goods and people, as well as postal traffic. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for aerophilately – a craze for collecting covers such as airmail stamps or airmail vignettes spread around the globe.
From the Jura to the whole world
As a result, there was a great deal of interest in being there for the first courier flight from La Caquerelle in the Jura to Lausanne in the summer of 1924. According to a report at the time in
the regional newspaper, an estimated 15,000 curious people flocked to La Caquerelle. A cargo of more than 20,000 letters and postcards was assembled for the special flight. However: the aircraft, a Rumpler CH 79, was unable to land at its desti- nation for safety reasons. The correspondence was therefore taken by car to Delémont, where the airmail took off at 4 p.m., first flying over La Caquerelle and finally landing in Lausanne. From there, the letters and postcards went on to their specified addresses.
“People who wanted to keep the valuable covers for them- selves sent mail to themselves. Others sent greetings to their friends abroad. Theoretically, the consignments could be anywhere in the world – that’s the fascinating thing about it,” explains Roland Herzog, a member of the Swiss Association of Aerophilatelists. The special flight in 1924 was brought to the attention of the stamp dealer by collector Jean-Luc Meusy. Working with a committee, they decided to get the ball rolling on an anniversary event: “Exactly 100 years later, we would like the commemorative flight to rekindle the special philatelic moment of that time.” The Delémont philately society, which or- ganized the first flight, will also be on board for the second time.
