| Crash site | Älmhult, Sweden |
| Airline | ABA (AB Aerotransport) |
| Aircraft | Northrop Delta 1E – SE-ADW – Småland |
| Route | Stockholm/Barkarby – Malmö – Hannover |
| Crew | 2 – 2 survivors |
| Passengers | 0 |
The crash
In 1934 ABA bought a new and very modern American Northrop “Gamma” airplane which was specially designed for transport of mail. It was to be used on the night airmail route Stockholm-Hannover.
On the evening of 6 July 1934 the plane left Stockholm on its first flight. As on most “first flights” the pilot was ABA’s chief-pilot Karl Gunnar Lindner. On board were also a radio operator and a mechanic. Shortly after takeoff the plane began to vibrate. The pilot decided to land on the Malmslätt airfield to check the plane. As no problems were found the plane took off again. The mechanic stayed at the airfield. About 400 km from Stockholm the vibrations increased so much that the plane was impossible to control. Lindner and his radio operator jumped by parachute. The plane crashed and burst into flames.
The mail
On board the plane was 170 kg of mail, most of which was badly burned. Postal employees soon arrived at the crash site to pick up the mail which was quickly brought to Malmö.
The mail came from Finland and Sweden and was destined for Denmark and other European countries.
Number of items in my records:
| From Finland | From Sweden | |
| Denmark | 0 | 9 |
| Austria | 1 | 0 |
| Belgium | 1 | 1 |
| Czechoslovakia | 1 | 0 |
| France | 6 | 7 |
| Germany | 14 | 18 |
| Great Britain | 12 | 16 |
| Italy | 1 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 6 | 4 |
| Spain | 0 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 9 | 5 |
A.
The Swedish Southern Postal District in Malmö produced labels to be used with mail that was forwarded to the recipients. The text was in French language and can be translated to “Malmö 7 July 1934. / This item has been damaged as a result of an airplane accident between Stockholm and Malmö the 6 this month. The Postal Direction Southern District.”.
The size of the labels vary as they were printed on large size paper and later cut from the sheets. Size usually around 111 x 46 mm.
Even if the text is the same I have recorded 5 variations in the arranging of the text:
A-a.
Size textblock: 88 x 31 mm.
Last line = du District……
Last line starts under the
space between La Direction.
A-b.
Size textblock: 88 x 31 mm.
Last line = du District……
Last line starts under the
a in La Direction.
Also typewriter error in
“i” in incendie.
A-c.
Size textblock: 88 x 31 mm.
Last line = District du……
First line starts above
C in Cet.
A-d.
Size textblock: 88 x 31 mm.
Last line = District du……
First line starts above
e in Cet.
Also typewriter error in
“c” in courant.
A-e.
Size textblock: ?.
Last line = District du……
In many ways a strange
variation.
Only one example known.
B.
The Swedish G.P.O. Complaint Office in Stockholm produced labels to be used with mail that was in such damaged condition that the item was returned to the sender. The text was in Swedish language and can be translated to “This item has been damaged in the crash of the mail airplane Småland near Älmhult on 6 July 1934″.
The size of the labels vary as they were printed on large size paper and later cut from the sheets.
Even if the text is the same I have recorded 3 variations of this label:
B-a.
Size textblock: 79 x 50 mm.
First line break after skadats
B-b.
Size textblock: 89 x 50 mm.
First line break after vid.
Point after Reklamationskontor.
B-c.
Size textblock: 89 x 50 mm.
First line break after vid.
No point after Reklamationskontor.
Numbers in different font type.
C.
The Finnish Post and Telegraph Complaint Office produced a label to be used with mail that was in such damaged condition that it was returned from Sweden and had to be returned to the sender. The text was in Finnish and Swedish language and can be translated to “The enclosed item has been damaged in the air crash between Stockholm and Malmö on 6 July 1934”.
The labels are printed in very good quality. Size: 152 x 85 mm.
D.
Finnish explanation letter.
The only such example that I have seen.
Used with a registered letter returned to the sender in Hangö.
Examples of mail
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Much charred picture postcard from Finland postmarked HELSINKI -5 VII 34 to Belgium with Swedish label type A-c. |
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Cover from Finland postmarked HELSINKI -5 VII 34 to Paris, France with Swedish label type A-d. |
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Registered cover from Helsinki, Finland to Paris. The Swedish Post in Malmö forwarded the damaged cover in a service cover with a new Malmö 1 registration label. The cover was sealed on the back with the Swedish label type A-b. |
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Registered cover from Finland postmarked HELSINKI/HELSINGFORS -5. VII. 34 addressed to a bank in Paris, France. The charred cover was forwarded to Paris in a Swedish service cover postmarked MALMÖ 1 7.7.34 and with Swedish label type A-a on the back. |
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Registered cover from Finland postmarked “TURKU * ÅBO -6 VII 34” to Bremen, Germany with Swedish label type A-d. |
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Cover from Finland postmarked ÅBO 6 VII 34 to Hamburg, Germany. The cover was badly damaged, so it was returned to the sender with the Finnish label type C. |
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Registered cover from Hangö/Hanko, Finland to Hamburg, Germany. Due to the damage the cover was returned to the sender with an explanation letter type D from the Finnish Post. |
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Much charred picture postcard from Finland postmarked VIIPURI 2 -5 VII 34. To London. The postcard was forwarded with a Swedish label type A-d in a neutral glassine service cover. |
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Cover from Finland postmarked PORI -5 VII 34 to London, England. Forwarded with label type A-c. |
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Registered cover from Helsinki, Finland to London. The Swedish Post in Malmö forwarded the damaged cover in a service cover with a new Malmö 1 registration label. The cover was sealed on the back with the Swedish label type A-b. |
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Cover from Helsinki, Finland to Amsterdam, Netherlands with Swedish label type A-d. |
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Postcard from Sweden metermarked STOCKHOLM 6 VII 34 to Copenhagen, Denmark. The card was forwarded in a neutral glassine service cover together with the Swedish label type A-c. |
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Cover from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 6.7.34 to Germany with Swedish label type A-d. The cover was forwarded in a neutral glassine service cover. Franked with 30 øre = air mail rate. |
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Postcard from Sweden postmarked EKERÖ 6.7.34 to Berlin, Germany with label type A-a. |
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Cover from Sweden with metermark STOCKHOLM -6 VII 34 sent to Germany with the “strange” Swedish crash label type A-e. |
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Cover from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 6.7.34 to Berlin, Germany. The cover was so much damaged that it was returned to the sender with label type B-a in an unusual service cover, which was backstamped STOCKHOLM 25.7.34. |
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Swedish service cover postmarked with faint postmark MALMÖ 1 * LUFTPOST * and addressed to Frankfurt/M, Germany. On the back the cover is sealed with the Swedish label type A-d and thre are also two arrival postmarks of Frankfurt. |
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Postal stationery card from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 6.7.34 to London. Swedish label type A-b. |
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Cover from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 6.7.34 to London with Swedish label type A-b. The cover was forwarded in a neutral glassine service cover. Franked with 25 øre = surface mail. |
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Cover from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 1 6.7.34 to Widnes, England. The cover was in too damaged condition and was returned to the sender with the Swedish label type B-c. |
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Much charred cover from Sweden to the Netherlands. Due to the damage the cover was returned to the sender with the Swedish label type B-c. |
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Registered cover from Stockholm, Sweden to London. The Swedish Post in Malmö forwarded the damaged cover in a service cover with a new Malmö 1 registration label. The cover was sealed on the back with the Swedish label type A-a. |
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Cover from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 6.7.34 and addressed to Madrid, Spain (unusual destination). The cover was forwarded with Swedish label type A-d. |
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Cover from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 16 6.7.34 sent to St. Gallen, Switzerland with Swedish label type A-d. The cover was not intended for airmail transport and therefore only franked with 25 øre. |
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Cover from Sweden postmarked STOCKHOLM 1 6.7.34 sent to Basel, Switzerland with Swedish label type A-b. |
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Window envelope to unknown destination postmarked STOCKHOLM 6.7.34. As the cover was much damaged it was returned to the sender in an unusual service cover postmarked STOCKHOLM 1 24.7.34 together with the label type B-b. |
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