By: Hellström, Yngve / Postmuseum 1958-02-10
This photo was taken on the exact day ten years after the Swedish archipelago postal flight programme was launched in 1948. For many decades helicopters ensured that the post reached its recipients when the islands where isolated by ice during the harsh winter months in Stockholm's archipelago.
The helicopters flew a regular postal route, which went from Bromma Airport to Gällnö, Skälvik, Ingmarsö, Stavsudda, Möja, Harö, Sandhamn, Runmarö, Nämdö, Ornö and Utö, prior to returning to Bromma.
Ostermans Aero broke history by performing the first mail service by helicopter in Europe when the first airmail was transported from Dalarö to the lighthouse keeper at Huvudskär on 21 February 1947.
A few letters had actually been up in a helicopter the day before, as the Swedish Post Office's Senior Administrative Director Linnäs joined the very first public helicopter display and brought three letters with him, thereby becoming the first helicopter mail man in the country.
Sources:
Ostermans Aero AB (ISBN 91-631-0364-8) by Göran Wallert
Flygminnen 1 (ISBN 91-85305-20-0) by Göran Wallert
Bromma Flygplats (ISBN 91-85496-87-1) by Michael Sanz