Air Mail Scandal

The Air Mail Scandal is the name that the American press of the 1930s gave to the results of a meeting (the so-called Spoils Conference) of Postmaster General Walter Folger Brown and the executives of the top airlines, effectively dividing among them the air mail routes.

Related Topics:
American - 1930s - Postmaster General - Walter Folger Brown - Air mail

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When Franklin Roosevelt became president, Alabama Democrat Senator Hugo Black set a committee to investigate those alleged improprieties and gaming of the rate structure, such as carriers padlocking individual pieces of mail to increase weight. Following this investigation, the government cancelled all existing airmail contracts.

Related Topics:
Franklin Roosevelt - Alabama - Democrat - Hugo Black

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On February 19, 1934, the United States Army Air Corps was ordered to begin flying US airmail. This was a tragic mistake. The Air Corps was not trained or equipped to fly in adverse weather conditions and by March 10th, twelve military pilots had died in 66 crashes. Flying ace and industry executive Eddie Rickenbacker angrily called the use of Army pilots "legalized murder".

Related Topics:
February 19 - 1934 - United States Army Air Corps - Eddie Rickenbacker

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The government had no choice but to return to the commercial carriers, but did so with several punitive conditions. The Air Mail Act of June 12, 1934 closely regulated the air mail business, dissolved the holdings that brought together airlines and aircraft manufacturers, and prevented companies that held the old contracts from getting new ones. (The industry's response to the last item was simply to change names; for instance Northwest Airways became Northwest Airlines.)

Related Topics:
June 12 - 1934

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The most punitive measure was to ban all former airline executives from further contracts. United Airlines' president, Philip G. Johnson, for instance, chose to leave the United States and helped to form Trans-Canada Airlines. The effect of the entire scandal was to guarantee that mail-carrying contracts remained unprofitable, and pushed the entire industry towards carrying passengers.

Related Topics:
United Airlines - Philip G. Johnson - Trans-Canada Airlines

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