Description:

1933 (June 6) Cloncurry-Brisbane with boxed 'Delivered by/AMBULANCE PLACE/by courtesy of/AERIAL MEDICAL SERVICE/CLONCURRY' cachet & signed by the pilot "EM Donaldson", minor blemishes. Unlisted & the only such cover we have seen. [In 1928, John Flynn's Australian Inland Mission conducted a one year experiment of an "Aerial Medical Service", based at Cloncurry in Outback Queensland, servicing a huge and remote largely uninhabited area of North Australia. The experiment was supported by Hudson Fysh, who supplied the first aircraft, & industrialist HV McKay. The service had the immediate support of the "locals" & was the first comprehensive air ambulance service in the world. In 1942 it was renamed the Flying Doctor Service, the "Royal" prefix being added in 1955]