1948 Sky Merchant World Flight

1948 Sky Merchant World Flight airsheet with superb assortment of worldwide postmarks.

After WWII the Atlas Supply Company purchased a Douglas C-54 airliner which they converted into a ‘flying showroom’ for Atlas products. The plane was branded as the Atlas Sky Merchant and to generate publicity for their showroom in the sky they organised an around the world flight. The company worked with the American Air Mail Society for the airsheets to be carried on the flight which left New Jersey on 5th January 1948. It was piloted by Captain Ivan Smirnoff, a decorated WWI Russian fighter ace, and visited 42 cities.