Mail service Call: V-mail

Between June 1942 and Nov 1945, over 1 billion 5-mails were processed.

V-Mail

The war was the impetus behind a dandy number of inventions, some of them make new and some wartime alterations made to existing exercise. Many of these developments would continue to endure and evolve, while others remain particular to the period, employed during World War II only, as a way to address a specific wartime need. One specific wartime demand was the efficient and expeditious commitment of post to US forces serving around the country and overseas.

The critical nature of the postal service effort was addressed in the 1942 Annual Report to the Postmaster General which stated: "The Post Office, War and Navy departments realize fully that frequent and rapid communication with parents, associates and other loved ones strengthens fortitude, enlivens patriotism, makes loneliness endurable and inspires to fifty-fifty greater devotion the men and women who are carrying on our fight far from habitation and from friends."

The military machine mail arrangement and the amount of mail service flowing back and along internationally during the war was massive. An unprecedented amount of mail was moved about during the war with Army mail offices, armada mail offices and United states of america post offices flooded with mail service. Each yr of the war, the number of pieces of mail increased. In 1945, 2.v billion pieces went through the Army Postal Service and 8 million pieces through Navy postal service offices. To bring postal service to those serving worldwide, the military postal system required a global network and innovative practice.

V-mail, short for "Victory mail," was a detail postal system put into place during the war to drastically reduce the space needed to transport mail thus freeing upward room for other valuable supplies. Although the 5-mail organisation was only used between June 1942 and November 1945, over i billion items were processed through these means. Officially entitled the "Army Micro Photographic Mail Service," War Department Pamphlet No. 21-i describes V-postal service every bit "an expeditious mail program which provides for quick postal service service to and from soldiers overseas. A special form is used which permits the letter to exist photographed in microfilm. The small film is transported then reproduced and delivered. Utilise of V-mail service is urged because it greatly furthers the war endeavour past saving aircraft and airplane space."

  • Common pre-printed holiday V-mail. Gift in Memory of William J. Mueller, 2001.490.003

    Common pre-printed holiday V-mail. Gift in Memory of William J. Mueller, 2001.490.003

  • Commercially-available packet of V-mail stationary. Gift of Frank Arian, MD, 2009.451.068

    Commercially-bachelor packet of V-mail stationary. Gift of Frank Arian, Physician, 2009.451.068

  • An example of a

    An case of a "long-form" 5-mail, sent through as-is, without being photographed and reproduced, a common practice due to damage or to lack of Five-mail facilities. Souvenir of Ms. Marjorie Walz, 2011.296.005

  • V-mail from Bill Stover to his family commenting on V-mail's reputation as a speedy service. Gift of the Family of William A. Stover, 2012.314.050

    V-post from Bill Stover to his family commenting on V-postal service'due south reputation every bit a speedy service. Gift of the Family of William A. Stover, 2012.314.050

  • Heavily damaged, thus un-processed V-mail. Gift in Memory of Col. R.B. Rordam

    Heavily damaged, thus un-processed V-post. Gift in Memory of Col. R.B. Rordam

The increased demand on the mail service was new, simply the engineering employed to see that need was not. Microphotography had been used since the 1850s, primarily for business organisation and banking. To go on rails of checks and money, a auto called the "Checkograph" was developed. In 1928, Kodak debuted the "Recordak I" as a way to film documents, and in 1935, Kodak began filming and then publishing the New York Times on microfilm.

By the showtime of the war, American postal planners besides had their eyes on Britain. Aerograph Ltd. was Britain'south use of microphotography of mail service, implemented in 1941 when the kickoff Aerograph letter of the alphabet was sent by Queen Elizabeth. The The states studied the British model and developed the V-mail system. In May 1942, the United States entered into a contract with Kodak for V-mail microfilming. On June 12, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received the beginning ii Five-mails. Then on June one, 1942, 5-mail service began.

An important part of the 5-mail system was the use of a standardized stationery which combined the letter and envelope into ane piece of paper. Even without microfilming, this was a cracking infinite-saving mensurate. The form was a sheet specially designed by the Authorities Printing Function and was provided gratis of accuse past the Post Office at the rate of 2 sheets per person per day. Consumers could also buy sheets made by different sanctioned providers. All of the paper used for V-mail had to be the same size and weight so that the pages could exist fed into the processing machine for microfilming. The manner one wrote on the letter too played a large part in whether i would ultimately be able to read the reduced version. Users of V-mail were instructed: "Utilize typewriter, dark ink, or nighttime pencil. Faint or modest writing is not suitable for photographing." The original forms could adapt up to 700 typed words. Despite teaching, there was still some defoliation about the use of V-mail.

The Post office, the War, and Navy Departments worked together in the complicated Five-mail functioning. There were three giant postal centers in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. All of the mail was funneled through these centers. Kodak trained filmers to piece of work with the Recordak machines. The military machine was then responsible for transporting the reels overseas. The V-mail station overseas would print and distribute. Some centers had machines that would open and flatten the letters earlier filming, but well-nigh were prepared by hand. Censors would besides read each letter of the alphabet earlier they were filmed. Because they were going to exist filmed, the letters had to be blacked out rather than cut out should they contain whatsoever sensitive fabric.

The Recordak could moving-picture show xl letters per infinitesimal and 1600 letters were accommodated per roll. The clerks assigned numbers to each V-mail, which corresponded to reel numbers. Each sender station kept the original copies as backups until they were notified by the receiving station that the reel had been properly transmitted. At the receiver station, clerks reproduced each frame onto photographic paper. Because of this there was the claim that no V-mail was ever lost. This was a selling indicate in the use of V-mail. Information technology was supposed to be a more secure mail system. All V-postal service was sent air mail, so it was also quicker. V-mail was also costless of charge for all servicemen.

Series of photographs with original captions from the service of WAC (Women's Army Corps) Corporal Mary T. Lynes who served at APO 929 in New Guinea. Souvenir of John K. Lynes Sr., 2010.309

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    Five-postal service operation in the field at APO 929. "Here is a section of the opening and targeting operation. Targeting is simply preparing each group of letters with a State target and so mail service for each group of States can exist sent to its proper finishing station in the States. Here besides, are withdrawn all messages which will not photograph well. These, of necessity, must exist sent by regular mail, which in this case means by air." Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 1944

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-mail service operation in the field at APO 929."The recording operation, using the Recordak machines. These operators photograph approximately seventeen hundred letters on each 100 foot curlicue of flick, and can be done in nigh 3 quarters of an hr." Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 1944

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    Five-mail operation in the field at APO 929."The next stride is the processing of the film, which is washed both on automatic machines which do individual rolls. In this shot the operator has completed the developing and is pouring in the hypo or fixing bath, after which the film will exist subjected to a water spray to wash it thoroughly. Information technology is so fed on to the upper reel which it is thoroughly dried by means of a warm air stream."

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-mail service operation in the field at APO 929."Afterwards processing the motion-picture show is taken to inspection where it is carefully examined on a projection automobile, for any flaws which may have occurred either during the recording or in developing. These bad letters are then punched out and tallied, then they tin be re-photographed on a later curlicue."

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-mail operation in the field at APO 929."Following this, the density of the film is measured on a densitometer and the density noted on its carton, just prior to dispatch."

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929."The retake department where all originals of V-Mail are stored until destruction orders are issued by the States. Destruction orders are not issued until the States stations have satisfactorily reproduced every letter on a roll. Should the States advise that certain letters must be rephotographed, the proper bundle must be located and the letter withdrawn to be recorded again.

    V-postal service performance in the field at APO 929."The retake department where all originals of V-Mail are stored until destruction orders are issued past the States. Destruction orders are not issued until u.s.a. stations have satisfactorily reproduced every letter on a roll. Should usa advise that certain letters must be rephotographed, the proper parcel must be located and the alphabetic character withdrawn to exist recorded over again.

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-mail operation in the field at APO 929. "Initial step in the Receiving section is this performance of checking the postal dispatch sheets and logging in the rolls received from the States. This section is now receiving and completely processing an boilerplate of seventy rolls per solar day." Port Moresby, Papua New Republic of guinea. 1944

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-post functioning in the field at APO 929."View of the continuous enlarger on which the image on the film is enlarged to regular 5-Mail size of 4¼  x 5 inches. Sensitized rolls of paper, 825 feet in length are used. Here, the operator is adjusting the voltage to secure proper exposure. This is determined by consulting a chart which suggests certain voltage and lens aperture settings for any given flick density."

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-mail service operation in the field at APO 929. "Paper inspection. At these tables each roll of finished work is inspected letter past letter and all badly reproduced letters are marked out. Where possible, an effort is made to produce a meliorate print in the Reprint department. Letters which cannot be satisfactorily reproduced are either sent back to the States to be rephotographed or to be sent via regular mail service." Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 1944

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-mail operation in the field at APO 929. "Newspaper chopping. At these choppers each letter is handcut from the roll and here the culls or bad letters are pulled out. Approximately xx minutes is required to completely chop a full roll of V-Mail." Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 1944

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    Five-mail operation in the field at APO 929. "On this machine the letters are folded to correct size for insertion into V-Post envelops, an operation which requires nearly eight minutes per roll. In the background are racks of folded letters."

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929."This is a view of the inserting and sealing. At the long table the girls must hand-insert each letter, after which all the envelopes are fed through a sealing machine. In the rear, the sealed letters are then bundled and bagged for dispatch to the Post Office."

    5-postal service performance in the field at APO 929."This is a view of the inserting and sealing. At the long tabular array the girls must paw-insert each alphabetic character, after which all the envelopes are fed through a sealing machine. In the rear, the sealed letters are and then bundled and bagged for dispatch to the Post Office."

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929.

    V-mail performance in the field at APO 929."Finished V-Postal service bundled, bagged and set for dispatch through the APO to the troops." Port Moresby, Papua New Republic of guinea. 1944

  • V-mail operation in the field at APO 929."The final act at the airstrip with the mail truck, containing letters for the States and for the troops, pulled alongside the plane." Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 1944

    V-mail performance in the field at APO 929."The final deed at the airstrip with the post truck, containing letters for the States and for the troops, pulled alongside the plane." Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 1944

Was V-mail a success? Information technology took a while to catch on and there is evidence that V mail was seen every bit less than a "real" alphabetic character. In February 1943, i correspondent, Ida "Dee" Ehlers wrote to her husband Lt. Harry Ehlers "I have not written you many letters lately. Have sent V Letters instead because they say (the papers) that just V Letters are sure to be delivered."

V-Mail service had its drawbacks. It was somewhat limiting in that only certain number of words could be used. Since the photo prints were ¼ size of the original letter, if the print was too modest then the concluding production was unreadable.Some stores actually sold special "V-mail service readers," magnifying glasses so that readers could decipher the reduced impress. Another downside of Five-mail is that one besides couldn't ship enclosures (at least initially) and could not leave a personal imprint in the grade of a lipstick buss on the newspaper. Lipstick was referred to as the "scarlet scourge," considering it would mucilage upwards the machines used to film the letters. Any muddied, damaged or crumpled letters had to be sent through as is without microfilming. Anyone who has ever dealt with a paper jam, knows how sensitive automatic feed equipment can be. Some messages whether because of status or because of the lack of fourth dimension or equipment to process, were sent through un-filmed, or in their original unprocessed format, instead of the photo print.

Just despite its faults, V-post was aided by marketing which branded the use of V-postal service as a patriotic duty and use of the service picked up over the years. In that location is no denying that the V-mail practice saved vital shipping space. Space saving were great: 37 mail bags could fit within 1 postal service bag of V-mail and effectually 1600 letters could fit on a unmarried 100-human foot roll of 16mm film. It also most certainly an initiative tied specifically to World State of war II, having but been produced between June 1942 and November 1945. The Museum'due south collection contains several thousand V-mails, which pose the same challenge to Museum catalogers' eyes every bit they did to the recipients' 75 years ago.

Kim Guise

Contributor

Kim Guise

Kimberly Guise holds a BA in German language and Judaic Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She too studied at the Universität Freiburg in Federal republic of germany and holds a masters in Library and Informatics (MLIS) from Louisiana State University. Kim is fluent in German, reads Yiddish, and specializes in the American prisoner-of-state of war experience in World State of war II.

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