Wearne's Air Service (WAS) , established in 1937, was an early Malayan airline.
77-726: Based in Kallang Airport , Singapore , it emerged as one of the earliest airlines in the region. WAS operated a diverse range of air services, including scheduled passenger flights, charter operations, aerial photography, land surveying, cargo and air mail transportation. Additionally, the airline is alternatively referred to as Wearne's Air Services or Wearnes Air Services . The inception of Wearne's Air Service dates back to 1906, initiated by Australian siblings Charles Frederick Foster Wearne and Theodore James Benjamin Wearne. Their establishment, C.F.F. Wearne & Company, initially concentrated on
154-637: A hot air balloon flight from Dover to France near Calais . It was flown by Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries . The letter was written by an American Loyalist William Franklin to his son William Temple Franklin who was serving in a diplomatic role in Paris with his grandfather Benjamin Franklin . During the first aerial flight in North America by balloon on January 9, 1793, from Philadelphia to Deptford, New Jersey , Jean-Pierre Blanchard carried
231-599: A 915-metre diameter, dome-shaped landing ground. On 12 June 1937, the Kallang Aerodrome was officially opened by Sir Shenton Thomas , who had taken over the governorship of the Straits Settlements from Sir Cecil in 1934. At the time it was hailed as "the finest airport in the British Empire ", with facilities that were considered revolutionary. The circular aerodrome allowed planes to land from any direction, and
308-632: A Dutch-made Fokker trimotor monoplane carrying 8 passengers and a cargo of fresh fruit, flowers and mail. This marked the beginning of commercial civil aviation in Singapore. KLM later introduced a regular Amsterdam to Batavia flight service in late 1931. Two years later, in July 1933, Imperial Airways , the flagship airline of the British empire at the time, started a service between London and Darwin via Cairo, Karachi, Calcutta, Singapore and Jakarta. This service
385-574: A comparable fate in Palembang , Sumatra , on February 10, 1942, when it was destroyed and written off after its starboard wings were sheared off by a Hawker Hurricane during an air raid. Despite the cessation of military control after the war in 1945, the airline did not resume its services, marking the closure of an era in Southeast Asian aviation history. After the challenging wartime experience and subsequent termination of Wearne's Air Service,
462-403: A daily flight to Ipoh later that year. The airline had aspirations to enhance its network even more by including Johore , Port Swettenham and Setiawan among its growing list of destinations. Impressed by the efficiency of Wearne's Air Services, the government has deemed it justifiable to provide financial assistance to maintain the service. The Colonial Secretary announced the decision of
539-511: A detachment of 2-VLG-V of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force operated from the airfield, defending Singapore from repeated Japanese air raids. They were joined later by Hawker Hurricanes of 232 Squadron RAF , but attrition took a steady toll on men and machines, and by the last days of January 1942, the airfield had been badly damaged by the bombing and only a small number of aircraft were serviceable. The last of
616-442: A doubling of the company's aircraft. The introduction of these larger four-engine aircraft, with a higher capacity of 12 passengers compared to the previous Rapide models' capacity of 8, facilitated the implementation of a daily flight between Singapore and Penang. The newly acquired aircraft were named Governor Murchison and Governor Ibbetson , respectively. Moreover, in response to the runway at Ipoh being deemed too short for
693-469: A monologue by a veteran pilot, preserving the atmosphere of these pioneering times: "We used to fly on the Paris route, from Hounslow to Le Bourget and get through as best as you could. Later we moved on to Croydon . (...) We carried the much advertised Air Mails. That meant the machines had to fly whether there were passengers to be carried or not. It was left to the discretion of the pilot whether or not
770-564: A new airport at Paya Lebar (the current Paya Lebar Air Base ) as the Kallang Airport was unable to cope with the increase in air traffic despite being expanded. The Kallang Airport finally closed in 1955. The Kallang Airport compound was subsequently occupied by several organisations following its decommissioning, the most notable being the People's Association which used the facility as its headquarters from 1960 to 2009. While most parts of
847-620: A new chapter began in the Southeast Asian aviation landscape. The absence created by the discontinuation of Wearne's Air Service provided an opportunity for renewal. The achievements of Wearne's Air Service in the 1930s garnered notable attention, prompting a collaborative effort between the Imperial Airways (later known as the British Overseas Airways Corporation or BOAC), Straits Steamship Company , and Ocean Steamship Company of Liverpool . This alliance culminated in
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#1732858667901924-565: A personal letter from George Washington to be delivered to the owner of whatever property Blanchard happened to land on, making the flight the first delivery of air mail in the United States. The first official air mail delivery in the United States took place on August 17, 1859, when John Wise piloted a balloon starting in Lafayette, Indiana , with a destination of New York . Weather issues forced him to land near Crawfordsville, Indiana , and
1001-479: A significant shift in its trajectory when the government assumed control of the airline just before the Japanese attack on Malaya in 1941. During World War II, WAS adapted its operations to support wartime efforts, focusing on flying charters for the army and RMAF . This strategic move was a response to the complex circumstances of wartime conditions and geopolitical changes. The Japanese occupation of Singapore and
1078-455: A specific kind of airmail letter which is its own envelope; see aerogram . Some forms of airletter, such as aerogram , may forbid enclosure of other material so as to keep the weight down. The choice to send a letter by air is indicated either by a handwritten note on the envelope , by the use of special labels called airmail etiquettes (blue stickers with the words "air mail" in French and in
1155-476: A stop in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond its role in transporting airmail , the inaugural service also accommodated several passengers. During its inaugural month of operations, Wearne's Air Service (WAS) achieved a notable milestone by carrying a total of 142 passengers. This early success laid the foundation for the airline's expansion, emphasized by the acquisition of a second aircraft, named Governor Fullerton , which
1232-407: A strategic decision was made to conserve resources, deferring market entry until more favorable circumstances arose. Capitalising on this opportunity, Malayan Airways commenced operations on 1 May 1947, representing a significant moment in the region's aviation history. Starting operations post-World War II, Malayan Airways played a key role in shaping the aviation landscape, laying the groundwork for
1309-432: A survey flight to Sarawak on January 17, 1939, in response to an invitation from Charles Vyner Brooke , Rajah of Sarawak. The purpose of the flight was to assess opportunities for establishing flights to the newly constructed Kuching Aerodrome . The journey from Singapore to Sarawak took approximately 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 hours, while the return leg, affected by headwinds , took 4 hours. Both parties expressed optimism about
1386-426: A tragic incident occurred during a Wearne's Air Service passenger plane's journey from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur. The aircraft crashed into a rubber estate , claiming the lives of all passengers and crew on board. This event marked the first fatal accident for both Wearne's Air Service and Malaya. In the aftermath of the crash, schedule adjustments became necessary. The total loss of one of its two remaining aircraft led to
1463-405: Is an iconic modernist building with Art Deco-style railings and columns by Frank Dorrington Ward. The international style is also visible in this building as a radical simplification of form, lack of ornaments, using transparent materials which make the building visually lighter; also the clear division of functions. There is a circular glass control tower in the centre, and there are two side blocks,
1540-421: Is different from nominal airmail in its branding, price, and priority of service. Specific instances of a letter being delivered by air long predate the introduction of Airmail as a regularly scheduled service available to the general public. Although homing pigeons had long been used to send messages (an activity known as pigeon mail ), the first mail to be carried by an air vehicle was on January 7, 1785, on
1617-500: Is unavailable. It is usually impossible to know this by examining an envelope, and such items are not considered "airmail." Generally, airmail would take a guaranteed and scheduled flight and arrive first, while air-speeded mail would wait for a non-guaranteed and merely available flight and would arrive later than normal airmail. A letter sent via airmail may be called an aerogramme , aerogram , air letter or simply airmail letter . However, aerogramme and aerogram may also refer to
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#17328586679011694-532: Is £4,500 lower than purchasing new ones. Nevertheless, the impact of the war took a toll on the Malayan internal air service. As the war commenced, there was a substantial decline in traffic according to the chairman of Wearne's Air Company. Furthermore, there was a significant rise in the price of petrol . In the midst of these challenging circumstances, both of de Havilland Express aircraft eventually sold to W.R. Carpenter Airlines of Australia in 1940. On May 4, 1940,
1771-638: The Bombay-Calcutta line to the exhibition. The letters bore an official frank "First Aerial Post, U.P. Exhibition, Allahabad. 1911". The aircraft used was a Humber-Sommer biplane , and it made the journey in thirteen minutes. The first official American airmail delivery was made on September 23, 1911, by pilot Earle Ovington under the authority of the United States Post Office Department . The first official air mail in Australia
1848-488: The Douglas DC-3 "Dakota" aircraft that used to land frequently at the Kallang Airport and serve to commemorate an aviation disaster in 1946 . Looking into the future, I expect to see Singapore become one of the largest and most important airports of the world ... It is, therefore, essential that we should have here, close to the heart of the town, an aerodrome which is equally suitable for land planes and for sea planes; and
1925-635: The London suburb of Hendon , North London , and the Postmaster General 's office in Windsor, Berkshire , on September 9, 1911, as part of the celebrations for King George V 's coronation and at the suggestion of Sir Walter Windham , who based his proposal on the successful experiment he had overseen in India. The service ran for just under a month, transporting 35 bags of mail in 16 flights; four pilots operated
2002-624: The Malay Peninsula marked a significant downturn for Wearne's Air Service, leading to the end of its operations during the war. The two remaining aircraft were absorbed into the Malayan Volunteers Air Force . Unfortunately, one of the aircraft met a tragic end in Ipoh on December 18, 1941, destroyed on the ground after being struck by a fragmentation bomb upon landing, resulting in the loss of both occupants on board. Another aircraft faced
2079-571: The Middle East . On 25 December 1918, the Latécoère Airlines (later becoming the famed Aéropostale ) became the first civilian international airmail service, when mail was flown from Toulouse , France, to Barcelona , Spain. Less than 2 months later, on 19 February 1919, the airmail service was extended to Casablanca , Morocco, making the Latécoère Airlines the first transcontinental airmail service. In June 1919, Alcock and Brown completed
2156-580: The Royal Air Force pioneered the first scheduled international airmail service between Folkestone, Kent and Cologne, Germany . The service operated between December 1918 and mid-1919; its purpose was to provide troops of the British Army stationed in Germany with a fast mail service. (see more at British Forces Post Office ) Throughout the 1920s the Royal Air Force continued to develop air routes through
2233-457: The aeroplane generated immediate interest in using them for mail transport. An unofficial airmail flight was conducted by Fred Wiseman, who carried three letters between Petaluma and Santa Rosa , California, on February 17, 1911. The world's first official airmail flight came the next day, at a large exhibition in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh , British India . The organizer of
2310-425: The automotive sector , evolving into Wearne Brothers Limited by 1912. Specialising in renowned automobile brands including Oldsmobiles , Rolls-Royces and Fords , the company diversified its operations to encompass motorized services throughout Southeast Asia . In tandem with this expansion, subsidiary automotive companies were established to manage Wearne's various agencies, starting with Malayan Motors. In 1929,
2387-587: The pilot would sign them as well. The first stamps designated specifically for airmail were issued by Italy in 1917, and used on experimental flights; they were produced by overprinting special delivery stamps. Austria also overprinted stamps for airmail in March 1918, soon followed by the first definitive stamp for airmail, issued by the United States in May 1918. A postal service may sometimes opt to transport some regular mail by air, perhaps because other transportation
Wearne's Air Service - Misplaced Pages Continue
2464-514: The "Old Kallang Airport Estate". It was one of the locations that hosted the 2011 Singapore Biennale art festival. There are plans to transform the Kallang Airport area into a commercial hub, along with the adjacent Kallang riverside. Today, roads like Old Airport Road , Kallang Airport Drive, Kallang Airport Way directly reference the Kallang Airport; Old Terminal Lane refers to the conserved Kallang Airport terminal building; Dakota Crescent , Dakota Close and Dakota MRT station are named after
2541-583: The Governor to grant an annual subsidy to the airline, with the subsidy for 1938 set at $ 25,000. As WAS continued its growth trajectory, the airline demonstrated signs of potential expansion by expressing interest in purchasing new aircraft. Recognising the evolving demands of its expanding network, this move indicated WAS's strategic approach to securing the necessary resources for future growth. WAS received an additional two new de Havilland Express airliners on 14 July 1938. This significant fleet expansion marked
2618-455: The Kallang Airport around two years before its official opening, on 21 November 1935. During World War II , the Kallang Airport was the only operational airfield in Singapore capable of supporting Allied campaigns against the Japanese forces. It was during the Japanese occupation period that the airport's grass landing zone was upgraded into a concrete runway and extended to 5,500 feet (1,700 m). As early as 1950, plans were made to build
2695-524: The Kallang Airport. Two new roads near Kallang MRT station have been named "Kallang Airport Drive" and "Kallang Airport Way". In addition, Old Terminal Lane, which links Geylang Road with Kallang Airport Way, references the Kallang Airport's conserved terminal building. The slipway for seaplanes was occupied by the Oasis Building, a structure built on the Kallang Basin . The terminal building itself
2772-569: The Kallang Basin, the Kallang Airport was hailed as "the finest airport in the British Empire " at that time. Famous aviator Amelia Earhart once described it as "an aviation miracle of the East". Construction of the Kallang Airport began in 1931 with 300 acres (120 ha) of mangrove swampland being reclaimed. It resulted in the displacement of a large Malay community to the area around Jalan Eunos. Three Hawker Osprey aircraft first touched down in
2849-456: The aircraft including Gustav Hamel , who flew the first service in his Blériot , covering the 21 miles between Hendon and Windsor in just 18 minutes. The service was eventually terminated due to constant and severe delays caused by bad weather conditions. Similar services were intermittently run in other countries before the war , including in Germany , France and Japan , where airmail provision
2926-484: The aircraft landing back in Singapore at 6:33 pm. This pre-service test flight played a crucial role in verifying the aircraft's operational readiness, ensuring a seamless operation as WAS prepared for its historic scheduled service. On June 28, 1937, WAS achieved a significant milestone with the commencement of its first official service. Utilizing the DH.89 Dragon Rapide aircraft, the flight traversed from Singapore to Penang with
3003-483: The airline's operations. When the Japanese launched their invasion of Malaya and Singapore on 8 December 1941, Kallang was the principal fighter airfield. By January 1942, it was the only operational fighter airfield in Singapore, as the other airfields ( Tengah , Seletar and Sembawang ) were within range of Japanese artillery at Johor Bahru . Brewster Buffalo fighters of 243 Squadron RAF , 488 Squadron RNZAF and
3080-483: The airport were demolished soon after its closure, numerous structures remain. The structures which were gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on 5 December 2008 include the airport's terminal building, administrative blocks, aircraft hangars and control tower. The conserved complex is currently unoccupied. Other parts of the Kallang Airport were redeveloped. The area surrounding
3157-569: The airport's former runway was first converted into the Kallang Park , a large public park created as part of "Project Lung"; later, the old National Stadium was built on the same site; today, the Singapore Sports Hub (including the new National Stadium and Singapore Indoor Stadium ) is a major national landmark. The eastern portion of the Kallang Airport was redeveloped into one of Singapore's first modern residential precinct, now called
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3234-419: The airport, while the resurrected local airline Malayan Airways (MAL) began services on 1 May 1947. In the early 1950s, the increasing size of aircraft and the need for longer runways resulted in it being extended beyond Mountbatten Road in the eastern boundary of the facility into what is now Old Airport Road. The new runway was 5,496 feet (1,675 m) long and 165 feet (50 m) wide. This necessitated
3311-628: The annual subsidy of $ 25,000 provided by the Governments of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States . Nevertheless, the internal aerial transport system in Malaya, operated by Wearne's Air Service, is set to continue its operations. This information was disclosed during the annual general meeting, chaired by Mr. Charles Wearne. In another significant development, WAS undertook
3388-420: The aspiration for air transport took root when Charles Wearne envisioned providing air services in Malaya. To realise this dream, he imported an Avro Avian plane to be assembled by the mechanics at Malayan Motors. The unveiling of the plane at Malayan Motors' showroom generated significant interest, marking a significant step towards the realization of Charles Wearne's vision. A crucial development unfolded with
3465-474: The aviation display, Sir Walter Windham , was able to secure permission from the postmaster general in India to operate an airmail service in order to generate publicity for the exhibition and to raise money for charity. Mail from people across the region was gathered in at Holy Trinity Church and the first airmail flight was piloted by Henri Pequet , who flew 6,500 letters a distance of 13 km (8.1 mi) from Allahabad to Naini —the nearest station on
3542-500: The best site, beyond all question, is the Kallang Basin. Sir Cecil Clementi , Governor of the Straits Settlements , 31 August 1931. Kallang Airport got its name from the nearby Kallang Basin , which was named after a group of sea-gypsies living around the area in the 1800s. On 11 February 1930, the Dutch Airline KLM operated the first service flight between Amsterdam and Batavia (now Jakarta ), landing at Seletar with
3619-478: The company's chairman, emphasized the need for a strategy to prevent further losses. In addition, he advocated for substantial government support, viewing it not merely as a subsidy but as a strategic investment, particularly in light of the essential public service rendered by Wearne's Air Services. In a notable turn of events, the four-engined de Havilland aircraft is being proposed for sale to China to serve as an air ambulance . The cost of these pre-owned airplanes
3696-478: The company's chief ground engineer , included a delivery journey lasting 17 days from England, with stops in various locations such as Benghazi , Cairo , Baghdad , Calcutta , Victoria Point , Penang , and Malacca . The airline's objective was to design a route connecting Singapore to Penang , strategically incorporating a stopover in Kuala Lumpur . During the aircraft delivery ceremony, Charles Wearne shared
3773-539: The emergence of two carriers – Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines . Historically, Wearne's Air Service provided scheduled air travel services to the listed destinations: Kallang Airport Kallang Airport (also known as the Kallang Aerodrome , Kallang Airfield and RAF Kallang ) was the first purpose-built civil international airport in Singapore . It was officially opened on 12 June 1937 and
3850-435: The establishment of Kallang Airport in 1937. This new aviation hub not only provided essential infrastructure but also played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the emergence of local airlines. Inspired by a vision for airborne transportation, Charles Wearne turned his attention to aviation, ultimately leading to the Wearne's Air Service. Wearne's Air Service (WAS) commenced its historic journey on June 20, 1937, with
3927-420: The establishment of Malayan Airways (MAL) on October 12, 1937. Nonetheless, MAL experienced a period of inactivity as its leadership recognised the inherent difficulties in competing with Wearne's Air Service's already established dominance, additionally heightened by the relatively small market size. Moreover, amid the impending European conflict , the prospect of war reaching Malaya loomed large. In response,
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#17328586679014004-473: The fighters left in early February, escaping to carry on the fight just before Singapore was surrendered to the advancing Japanese. Air Headquarters Malaya Communication Squadron RAF was formed here. The growth in aviation traffic was stunted during the war years , a period which saw the landing circle being converted into a single runway to allow use by warplanes. The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and Qantas resumed their regular services to
4081-466: The first half century of its existence, transportation of mail via aircraft was usually categorized and sold as a separate service (airmail) from surface mail. Today it is often the case that mail service is categorized and sold according to transit time alone, with mode of transport (land, sea, air) being decided on the back end in dynamic intermodal combinations. Thus even "regular" mail may make part of its journey on an aircraft. Such "air-speeded" mail
4158-455: The first transatlantic airmail flight. The first airmail service established officially by an airline occurred in Colombia , South America, on 19 October 1920. Scadta , the first airline of the country, flew landing river by river delivering mail in its destinations. Australia's first airmail contract was awarded to Norman (later Sir) Brearley's Western Australian Airlines (WAA). The first airmail
4235-537: The flight should be cancelled in bad weather; the pilots were dead keen on flying in the most impossible conditions. Sanderson got killed this way at Douinville. And all he had in the machine was a couple of picture postcards from trippers in Paris, sent to their families as a curiosity. That was the Air Mail. No passengers or anything—just the mail". In the aftermath of the war, the Royal Engineers (Postal Section) and
4312-568: The former terminal building, with an open-air viewing deck on the top floor. The People's Association kept the concrete structure and transparent glazed walls and repaired the façade, closed the gates, and rebuilt the window on the second floor for reshaping the interior space for the use of offices. Airmail Airmail (or air mail ) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail , and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be
4389-557: The installation of traffic lights to halt vehicular traffic every time a plane took off or landed. Kallang Airport has left several reminders of its existence. The old runway near to Mountbatten Road is now called Old Airport Road . The surrounding public flats there are named the Old Kallang Airport Estate. The estate is served by Dakota MRT station , which took its name from the Dakota DC-3 aircraft which used to land at
4466-511: The introduction of this flight, the journey from Penang to Kota Bharu was accomplished through the Siamese railway service, taking 27 hours. This period also highlighted Wearne's Air Services Ltd. as an essential service in a war-affected region, recognising its financial struggles and near-break-even achievement by the end of the last fiscal year. However, facing renewed losses due to decreased returns and rising operational expenses, Charles Wearne,
4543-569: The mail reached its final destination via train. In 1959, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 7 cent stamp commemorating the event. Balloons also carried mail out of Paris and Metz during the Franco-Prussian War (1870), drifting over the heads of the Germans besieging those cities. Balloon mail was also carried on an 1877 flight in Nashville, Tennessee . Starting in 1903 the introduction of
4620-483: The new aircraft, the airline temporarily suspended services to Ipoh. Instead, Sitiawan was utilized as an alternative, with the airline providing motor transfer services to transport passengers, mail, and freight from Sitiawan to Ipoh. Despite these expansion efforts, the financial report revealed a notable setback, with Wearne's Air Service incurring a $ 78,000 loss for the fiscal year from October 1, 1937, to September 30, 1938. This financial challenge persisted despite
4697-550: The only option for sending mail to some destinations, such as overseas, if the mail cannot wait the time it would take to arrive by ship , sometimes weeks. The Universal Postal Union adopted comprehensive rules for airmail at its 1929 Postal Union Congress in London. Since the official language of the Universal Postal Union is French, airmail items worldwide are often marked Par avion , literally: "by airplane". For about
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#17328586679014774-634: The potential development of scheduled biweekly flights between Kuching and Singapore in the near future. Notably, the Ranee of Sarawak was among the passengers on the return flight to Singapore, marking a significant achievement in Sarawak's aviation history as it represented the inaugural operations at the newly established Kuching aerodrome. In a subsequent development, WAS introduced Taiping on February 16, 1939. The daily flight from Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh/Setiawan-Penang would now operate three times daily, while
4851-464: The reception of its first aircraft, the de Havilland Dragon Rapide named Governor Raffles . This inaugural aircraft, symbolising the onset of a new era for the airline, was formally announced during the delivery ceremony commemorating its arrival from England, led by Charles Wearne, the director of Wearne's Air Services. The notable flight, piloted by Flight Lieut. J. B. W. Pugh, the company's chief pilot , accompanied by his wife and Mr. J.G. Boehm,
4928-435: The remaining four days would be directed to Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Taiping-Penang. Nonetheless, from June 27, 1939, the company announced the resumptipon of a regular stop in Ipoh instead of Taiping. Expanding its network further, Kota Bharu was introduced on April 3, 1940. This addition meant that the flight from Penang to Kota Bharu would significantly reduce the current land service time from 27 hours to just 1¼ hours. Before
5005-412: The same day. Two days before the scheduled inauguration of its service on June 29, 1937, Wearne's Air Service (WAS) executed a pivotal test flight on June 25, 1937. Departing from Singapore at 6:58 am with five passengers on board, the flight was bound for Penang via Kuala Lumpur. In Kuala Lumpur, the aircraft showcased demonstration flights upon its arrival from Singapore. The test flight concluded with
5082-403: The slipway allowed seaplanes to be served at the same terminal building as regular planes. Wearne's Air Service promptly initiated its Malaya internal air service on June 28, 1937, leveraging the advanced infrastructure of the newly unveiled Kallang Aerodrome. Positioned at the forefront of aviation innovation, the circular aerodrome's state-of-the-art facilities provided an optimal setting for
5159-524: The suspension of the daily service. Thus, the sole remaining aircraft operates on alternate days. In August 1940, Wearne's Air Services developed plans to acquire a new DH 89 Rapide aircraft from China National Airways Corporation (CNAC) with the aim of reinstating its daily service. Following the required arrangements and the acquisition of the new aircraft from CNAC, the daily service was successfully reinstated in December 1940. Wearne's Air Service underwent
5236-488: The visionary plans for the airline's expansion. He revealed that once suitable landing fields became available, the flight itinerary would be extended to include destinations such as Kota Bharu , Ipoh , Malacca, Fraser's Hill , Cameron Highlands and other key centers in both Malaya and Borneo . The new service shortened travel times, making Singapore accessible within 1½ hours of Kuala Lumpur and 3¼ hours of Penang, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, returning on
5313-649: Was briefly established in 1912, only to meet with similar practical difficulties. The range, speed and lifting capacity of aircraft were transformed through technological innovation during the war, allowing the first practical air mail services to finally become a reality when the war ended. For instance, the first regularly scheduled airmail service in the United States was inaugurated on May 15, 1918. The route, which ran between Washington, D.C. , and New York City , with an intermediate stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ,
5390-486: Was carried between Geraldton and Derby in Western Australia on December 5, 1921. Since stamp collecting was already a well-developed hobby by this time, collectors followed developments in airmail service closely, and went to some trouble to find out about the first flights between various destinations, and to get letters onto them. The authorities often used special cachets on the covers , and in many cases
5467-463: Was carried by French pilot Maurice Guillaux. On July 16–18, 1914, he flew his Blériot XI aircraft from Melbourne to Sydney, a distance of 584 miles (940 km), carrying 1785 specially printed postcards, some Lipton's Tea and some O.T. Lemon juice. At the time, this was the longest such flight in the world. The world's first scheduled airmail post service took place in the United Kingdom between
5544-411: Was chosen over other possible sites because of its proximity to the city centre as well as its location next to the Kallang Basin, which allowed seaplanes to land. Reclamation work began on the 103 hectares of a tidal swamp in Kallang Basin in 1932. Seven million cubic metres of earth were used for the filling of this tidal swamp. By 1936, all reclamation and consolidation of land were completed, forming
5621-468: Was closed in 1955, when its operations were relocated to Paya Lebar . At its greatest extent, the airport, which was situated on the eastern shore of the Kallang Basin , spanned the modern planning areas of Kallang and Geylang . The conserved remains of the airport, including its terminal building, are located wholly within Kallang. Boasting an anchorage area for seaplanes along the airport's perimeter on
5698-754: Was designed by aviation pioneer Augustus Post . The field used for this service is marked by a plaque in West Potomac Park . In 1925, the U.S. Postal service issued contracts to fly airmail between designated points. By 1931, 85% of domestic airline revenue was from airmail. In Germany, dirigibles of the 1920s and 1930s were used extensively to carry airmail; it was known as Zeppelin mail , or dirigible mail. The German Zeppelins were especially visible in this role, and many countries issued special stamps for use on Zeppelin mail. The 1928 book So Disdained by Nevil Shute —a novel based on this author's deep interest in and thorough knowledge of aviation—includes
5775-501: Was later extended to Brisbane and operated jointly with Qantas on 17 December 1934. Booming commercial aviation traffic led to congestion at the existing Seletar Airbase (today's Seletar Airport ), creating a need for a new airport. On 31 August 1931, Sir Cecil Clementi , Governor of the Straits Settlements , announced that Kallang Basin as the location for the new civil aerodrome suitable for land planes and seaplanes, and relieving Seletar of commercial flight activities. This place
5852-421: Was transported to Singapore via a steamship . Notably, this new aircraft arrived on August 24, 1937, enabling WAS to increase its service frequency to daily operations from September 25 onwards, except on Sundays. In a subsequent phase of development, WAS expanded its services to Alor Setar , inaugurating a weekly Saturday flight from April 2, 1938. Simultaneously, the airline broadened its network by introducing
5929-492: Was used as the headquarters of the People's Association until 9 April 2009, when it moved to its new headquarters at King George's Avenue. The PA building held many activities for the ruling People's Action Party, ranging from school visits to social events. Kallang Airport was gazetted for conservation on 5 December 2008 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore. The original Terminal Building
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