Damaged by Aircraft Accident

Most aircraft flying through the Berlin corridor were also carrying mail-bags. This envelope was on board of the Vickers ‘Viking’ G-AIVP that crashed on its way to Berlin-Gatow on 5 April 1948, due to a mid-air collision with a Soviet fighter aircraft. During the accident, all 14 on board of the British aircraft and the Soviet fighter pilot died. After the crash, the letter was handed over to the East German Mail Services and finally delivered to its addressee with some delay. It carries a machine-written sticker which states: “Damaged by aircraft accident. Post Office Berlin NF 7”.