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H. Paul Culver (1893-1964) was taught to fly by Glenn Curtiss and was an Army test pilot and combat flying instructor during World War I. In May of 1918, 1st Lieutenant Culver was one of four United States Army pilots who flew the Nation's first regular two way air mail run between New York City and Washington, DC. Culver flew from Philadelphia to New York, the second leg of the historic run. Culver was also in charge of the Bustleton Pennsylvania Air Mail Station during the three month period that the Army flew the air mail. At the end of that period, the post office took over all air mail operations. After Culver's stint as an air mail pilot, he resigned from the Army and became a sales engineer for the Ex-Cell-O Corporation. He was a member of the Early Birds.

 Identifier

NASM.1999.0028

Creator

Culver, H. Paul, 1893-1964

Date

1918

Provenance

Commander Paul D. Culver, gift, 1999, 1999-0028, Unknown

Extent

0.23 Cubic feet ((1 slim legal document box))

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of material documenting the Army's air mail service and includes correspondence, air mail schedules, equipment lists and receipts, operation orders and memorandums, officer lists and personal notifications and orders.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Topics

Air mail service

Aeronautics

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Correspondence

Lists