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What we collect!
What we collect!


United States/BOB & Other : V-Mail

 

Author
Postings
vinman
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18 Mar 2023
11:15:55am
I have been adding to my V-Mail or Victory Mail collection and want to share some of it here. Beside letters the soldiers of WW2 could send different greetings home by V-Mail. I have been focusing on Christmas greetings but there are many other types that could be sent. Most were preprinted but some are hand drawn by the soldiers. The ones I am showing today are the preprinted type.
These are just a few of my collection, I have more if there is any interest in seeing them.

Here is a link that explains what V-Mail is.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/v ...

Here is an example of the envelope that was used for V-Mail.
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vinman
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19 Mar 2023
08:53:21am
re: V-Mail

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vinman
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23 Mar 2023
08:00:49pm
re: V-Mail

Here are more V-Mail Christmas Greetings.
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Bobstamp
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24 Mar 2023
03:16:18pm
re: V-Mail

Nice collection, Vinland. The pre-designed, pre-printed V-Mail letters haven’t had as much interest for me as those transmitting personal, hand-written or typed letters. I have several from an American soldier who was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, a.k.a. The Battle of the Ardennes Forest, and another that his parents sent to his commanding officer but was returned in a special V-Mail envelope more from his parents.

The one most important to me was mailed by my dad’s younger brother, Phil, from the South Pacific where was in command of a small detachment of radio repairmen who flew from island to islands keeping the communications network in good repair. My short web page, "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham", discusses the history and usage of V-Mail.

Bob

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Harvey
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!

24 Mar 2023
03:37:08pm
re: V-Mail

Something else that I'd never heard about until one of you sent me an example as a gift with some stamps I bought - very interesting stuff!!

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""We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years." George Carlin"
Airline
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25 Mar 2023
05:39:14pm
re: V-Mail

I've done a little sorting of my father's letters home during WW II and have come up with a very unscientific time line of the V-mail that was used during that time. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Rgt, 9th Infantry Div.

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These are 3 letters written from 8 June - 8 September 1943.
The top letter sent to my grandfather from the area around Bizerte, Tunisia was written 8 June and postmarked 10 June from APO 9. The fighting in Tunisia had ended 13 May and the units were resting and refitting.

V Mail number 1 is similar to what we know as an aero-gram but not pre-printed like the SeeBee V Mails Vinman has shared. They are letter sheet sized (8.5 X 11 inches) and when folded for mailing are 4 3/8 X 5 5/8". It was presented to the censor sealed, the censor opened and cleared it, then resealed it and stamped the outside.

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The second V Mail is what I believe is the final version. The full sized letter sheet was cleared by the censor and stamped to the left of the addressee block. The image was photographed (I assume) and reduce to 4 1/4 X 5 1/4, then folded and put in the window envelope for mailing. This V Mail was sent from Sicily, written on 14 August a few days before the official end of that campaign. It was cancelled on 8 September in New York.

This the last V Mail he sent, written 4 November 1944 while the 47th was in the Hurtgen Forest. My father was wounded on 22 November 1944 in the vicinity of Schmidt, Germany during the ramp up of the Battle of the Bulge.

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The use of V Mail reduced the size of GI mails to home freeing up volume and weight for other items. The cancelling in New York freed up man hours and material resources in the areas of operation overseas. The letters my father sent home from England while preparing for the invasion of France were regular letter with Free franking. While in hospital in England after his injuries he had to pay the 6 cent Air Mail rate.



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vinman
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25 Mar 2023
06:45:05pm
re: V-Mail

Bob,
I have maybe a dozen V-Mail letters but they contain notes that they are doing well and thanks for the letters or package. Due to the censoring not much of interest for the postal historian. I enjoyed your your "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham". It has personal meaning for you. My fater enlisted in WW2 September 1944 and only served state side so no V-Mail from him.
Like you I have an interest in hand written or typed letters from WW2. I have a growing collection of Return to sender, "KIA or MIA". I do a little research into to deceased soldier and circumstances about their demise. Fairly simple today with the internet although WW1 information is a little sparce. I feel like I am doing a service for their sacrifice. Since their letters have hit the market place there might not be anyone to tell their story or remember them. It is really interesting reading the debriefing of flight crews that seen an airplane go down or from the crew members after they are released from POW camps.

Vince

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vinman
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25 Mar 2023
06:48:14pm
re: V-Mail

Here are a few more Holiday Greetings.

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Patches
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Liz

26 Mar 2023
11:22:06am
re: V-Mail

Thank you for sharing.

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vinman
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04 Nov 2023
09:32:45am
re: V-Mail

Here is a group of recent additions to my V-Mail collection.
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51Studebaker
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Dialysis, damned if you do...dead if you don't

04 Nov 2023
09:42:55am
re: V-Mail

Good stuff Vince!
Don

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"Current Score... Don 1 - Cancer 0"

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Harvey
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!

04 Nov 2023
09:50:43am
re: V-Mail

I don't collect them but they are very interesting! I have one in my collection as an example.
I have always been interested in military history and can really understand the interest in V-mail - great stuff!!!
A friend has two letters dating back to military action in India during the mid 1800's in the original stampless military covers. The regiment still exists in Britain and I got in touch with them to see if they were interested in either the letters or scans, TWICE with no reply. Her family has no interest either, which I find really odd since this is a great great grandfather. I get a feeling we might be the last generation with an interest in History, sad!!!

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""We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years." George Carlin"
vinman
Members Picture


06 Nov 2023
10:33:09am
re: V-Mail

Here are some more I have scanned.

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
vinman

18 Mar 2023
11:15:55am

I have been adding to my V-Mail or Victory Mail collection and want to share some of it here. Beside letters the soldiers of WW2 could send different greetings home by V-Mail. I have been focusing on Christmas greetings but there are many other types that could be sent. Most were preprinted but some are hand drawn by the soldiers. The ones I am showing today are the preprinted type.
These are just a few of my collection, I have more if there is any interest in seeing them.

Here is a link that explains what V-Mail is.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/v ...

Here is an example of the envelope that was used for V-Mail.
Image Not Found

Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found

Like 
7 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
Members Picture
vinman

19 Mar 2023
08:53:21am

re: V-Mail

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"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

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vinman

23 Mar 2023
08:00:49pm

re: V-Mail

Here are more V-Mail Christmas Greetings.
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
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Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found

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5 Members
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"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
Members Picture
Bobstamp

24 Mar 2023
03:16:18pm

re: V-Mail

Nice collection, Vinland. The pre-designed, pre-printed V-Mail letters haven’t had as much interest for me as those transmitting personal, hand-written or typed letters. I have several from an American soldier who was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, a.k.a. The Battle of the Ardennes Forest, and another that his parents sent to his commanding officer but was returned in a special V-Mail envelope more from his parents.

The one most important to me was mailed by my dad’s younger brother, Phil, from the South Pacific where was in command of a small detachment of radio repairmen who flew from island to islands keeping the communications network in good repair. My short web page, "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham", discusses the history and usage of V-Mail.

Bob

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www.ephemeraltreasur ...

This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
24 Mar 2023
03:37:08pm

re: V-Mail

Something else that I'd never heard about until one of you sent me an example as a gift with some stamps I bought - very interesting stuff!!

Like
Login to Like
this post

""We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years." George Carlin"
Members Picture
Airline

25 Mar 2023
05:39:14pm

re: V-Mail

I've done a little sorting of my father's letters home during WW II and have come up with a very unscientific time line of the V-mail that was used during that time. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Rgt, 9th Infantry Div.

Image Not Found

These are 3 letters written from 8 June - 8 September 1943.
The top letter sent to my grandfather from the area around Bizerte, Tunisia was written 8 June and postmarked 10 June from APO 9. The fighting in Tunisia had ended 13 May and the units were resting and refitting.

V Mail number 1 is similar to what we know as an aero-gram but not pre-printed like the SeeBee V Mails Vinman has shared. They are letter sheet sized (8.5 X 11 inches) and when folded for mailing are 4 3/8 X 5 5/8". It was presented to the censor sealed, the censor opened and cleared it, then resealed it and stamped the outside.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

The second V Mail is what I believe is the final version. The full sized letter sheet was cleared by the censor and stamped to the left of the addressee block. The image was photographed (I assume) and reduce to 4 1/4 X 5 1/4, then folded and put in the window envelope for mailing. This V Mail was sent from Sicily, written on 14 August a few days before the official end of that campaign. It was cancelled on 8 September in New York.

This the last V Mail he sent, written 4 November 1944 while the 47th was in the Hurtgen Forest. My father was wounded on 22 November 1944 in the vicinity of Schmidt, Germany during the ramp up of the Battle of the Bulge.

Image Not Found


The use of V Mail reduced the size of GI mails to home freeing up volume and weight for other items. The cancelling in New York freed up man hours and material resources in the areas of operation overseas. The letters my father sent home from England while preparing for the invasion of France were regular letter with Free franking. While in hospital in England after his injuries he had to pay the 6 cent Air Mail rate.



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Members Picture
vinman

25 Mar 2023
06:45:05pm

re: V-Mail

Bob,
I have maybe a dozen V-Mail letters but they contain notes that they are doing well and thanks for the letters or package. Due to the censoring not much of interest for the postal historian. I enjoyed your your "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham". It has personal meaning for you. My fater enlisted in WW2 September 1944 and only served state side so no V-Mail from him.
Like you I have an interest in hand written or typed letters from WW2. I have a growing collection of Return to sender, "KIA or MIA". I do a little research into to deceased soldier and circumstances about their demise. Fairly simple today with the internet although WW1 information is a little sparce. I feel like I am doing a service for their sacrifice. Since their letters have hit the market place there might not be anyone to tell their story or remember them. It is really interesting reading the debriefing of flight crews that seen an airplane go down or from the crew members after they are released from POW camps.

Vince

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"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
Members Picture
vinman

25 Mar 2023
06:48:14pm

re: V-Mail

Here are a few more Holiday Greetings.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Like 
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
Members Picture
Patches

Liz
26 Mar 2023
11:22:06am

re: V-Mail

Thank you for sharing.

Like
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this post
Members Picture
vinman

04 Nov 2023
09:32:45am

re: V-Mail

Here is a group of recent additions to my V-Mail collection.
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found

Like 
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
Members Picture
51Studebaker

Dialysis, damned if you do...dead if you don't
04 Nov 2023
09:42:55am

re: V-Mail

Good stuff Vince!
Don

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"Current Score... Don 1 - Cancer 0"

stampsmarter.org

This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
04 Nov 2023
09:50:43am

re: V-Mail

I don't collect them but they are very interesting! I have one in my collection as an example.
I have always been interested in military history and can really understand the interest in V-mail - great stuff!!!
A friend has two letters dating back to military action in India during the mid 1800's in the original stampless military covers. The regiment still exists in Britain and I got in touch with them to see if they were interested in either the letters or scans, TWICE with no reply. Her family has no interest either, which I find really odd since this is a great great grandfather. I get a feeling we might be the last generation with an interest in History, sad!!!

Like 
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

""We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years." George Carlin"
Members Picture
vinman

06 Nov 2023
10:33:09am

re: V-Mail

Here are some more I have scanned.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Image Not Found


Like 
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"The best in Big Band and Swing Music WRDV.org"

wrdv.org/
        

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