V-mail: microfilm airmail from WWII. During WWII, soldiers sent "V-mail" ("victory mail") home in the form of letters that were opened, photographed onto microfilm, flown to the US and printed out, re-addressed and delivered.
This saved tons in freight expenses and it was delivered by speedy airmail, while regular letters went by slow sea-freight. The BBC has photos of period v-mails along with audio of soldiers reminiscing about their v-mail adventures. [T]he soldiers wrote their letters on a form provided and it was then photographed onto microfilm which was simply flown to the USA. A reel of 16mm microfilm could contain 18,000 letters and in terms of bulk and weight the roll of film took up only a fraction of what 18,000 real letters would take. Upon arrival in the USA the letters were printed from the film and then posted onward to the addressee. Link (via Neatorama) V-mail letter from Mother #5 - WWII. WWII Letters, WW2 Letters and Photos. The WW2 Letters of Private Melvin W. Johnson. Letters From World War II — WWII Letters.
Dad’s WWII Letters To Mom™ It’s early October of 1942.
Dad is still at Norfolk, Virginia, processing the Navy Seabee recruits through their vaccination routines and other health matters. He doesn’t write to my future mom about the war, and seems to be completely detached from what is going on overseas. As he mentions in one of today’s letters, a movie that he saw on one of his trips to town brought it all home for a bit. He even brings up religion and tries to explain to her what he personally believes. His faith a bit shaky at this point in his existence, and certainly gets a lot stronger as time goes on. He goes to downtown Norfolk one night and seems quite disturbed by what he sees, but I think that is an act for his Anna Mae. On to the letters . . . [Postmark: October 7, 1942] [Click image for larger view] [Norfolk, VA]Oct. 6, 1942My Darling Sweetheart,Thanks for the picture. [Postmark: October 9, 1942] [Postmark: October 12, 1942] [Postmark: October 13, 1942]
Letters From Home. Dear Jim, We rec'd your letter from England and thank you for writing to us.
We are happy for you and your family that you will soon be reunited and we hope you are well. It was an awful shock to us to lose our Don as you know he was all we had. We are trying to carry on as best we can but life will never be quite the same again. There are many things we would like to know but we don't like to ask too many questions as you have been through so much we know there are many things you would like to forget. We would like to know just what happened on that last fatal mission.
Do you think the boys were killed instantly. Is there any way we can find out if they were buried and where. Don was so fond of all the boys and so proud of your crew. We want to know more about yourself. Just give us a ring our phone number is Oneida N.Y. 1409 - RI.