They KNILM

The Royal Netherlands East Indies Aviation Company (KNNILM) was founded on July 16, 1928. Many collectors believe that KNILM was a subsidiary of KLM, but that is not the case. The company also had no connection with the KNIL, the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. It was an independent enterprise that did, however, have strong ties with KLM. KNILM provided domestic air connections within the Dutch East Indies. Furthermore, there were connections to Singapore (from 1930), Saigon, and Sydney in Australia (from 1938). Like so many airlines, KNILM started with just a few routes, which were gradually expanded. Collectors of airmail items capitalized on this by creating special pieces of mail to be included on a 'first flight' for a newly opened route. However, the airlines also lent collectors a hand by making these special envelopes available themselves. An example is the opening of the route on October 1, 1940, from Java via Makassar, North Sulawesi, and Ternate to Ambon. The length of this new route was 3.836 kilometers, and it operated once a week. The KNILM issued a special envelope for this purpose. They sold the envelope for 25 cents, and the proceeds were intended for the Netherlands East Indies Aviation Fund. That the envelope was from the KNILM is evident from the printed inside; although in mirror image, it has been made legible, showing a large number of places served by the KNILM. For good measure, it was written in red ink at the top of the envelope that it was intended for the 'Per Opening KNLIM flight Java-Ambon vv on 1 October 1940'. A map of the Dutch East Indies was printed on the envelope, showing the existing air routes in red and the new air connection in blue. Above is a small drawing of a flying boat. In 1940, the KNILM had two Grumman Goose flying boats, also known as amphibious aircraft. A top view of this aircraft is incorporated into the large round stamp printed in blue-violet ink. Three names are included in that stamp: Makassar, Minahassa, and Amboina. This does not correspond to the previously mentioned places. But how did the air route run then? The service was operated as follows: Surabaya (on Java) – Makassar – Palopo – Kolonedale – Gorotalo – Tondano – Ternate – Namlea – Amboina – Fak Fak – Babo and Manokwari. Then back again. In addition to the 5-cent stamp, the envelope was provided with a 30-cent airmail stamp for special flights. The stamps were cancelled with the Batavia-Centrum date stamp with the date September 28, 1940. Not very legible and therefore made somewhat clearer. On October 2, 1940, the envelope arrived in Ambon. An impression of the Amboina stamp appears on the back of the envelope with the date October 2, 1940. The journey then continued, and the envelope arrived in Makassar on October 7, 1940, after which it returned to Batavia and was stamped with the Batavia-Centrum arrival stamp of October 8, 1940. The addressee, Mr. LL Lioni, must have been pleased with the envelope, but I am even happier with it. Yet another piece of aviation history captured.