Special type of red bordered courier service cover imprinted ESSENTIAL MILITARY AIR MAIL. Originated at the Army Message Center at APO 708 on Espiritu Santo. Note the courier handstamp with E(spiritu) S(anto) and accounting number 4844. The Navy receipt number N-77219 shows the cover was carried part way by a Navy courier. The receipt number 5745 directly above it was affixed by the Army when their courier took the courier letter to its final destination.
Picture thanks to Stan C. Jersey, USA. Please see page 25 of his book mentioned in the menu "Links & More", Bibliography.

Mailed at APO 708 (Santo, New Hebrides) by a member of Company I, 182nd Infantry Regiment, formerly part of Detachment A, ATF 6814, now part of the island command at November 12, 1942, marked "Passed by US 19050 Army Examiner".
Picture thanks to Stan C. Jersey, USA. Please see page 127 of his book mentioned in the menu "Links & More", Bibliography.

Mailed at APO 708 (Santo, New Hebrides) by a member of 1984th Quartermaster Truck Company Aviation - 321st Air Service Group - 13th Air Force (The Jungle Air Force) at July 14, 1943, marked "Passed by US 18314 Army Examiner". (unknown coll.)

Registered air mail letter from A.P.O 708 Espiritu Santo 6th Field Artillery Battalion. Double concession airmail registered to Minneapolis Minn. The american stamps 6c transport (2) and 15c Buchanan Prexie cancelled by manual cachet R in black, REGISTERED/NO and tied by VIA AIR MAIL in violet. Circular PASSED BY EXAMINER BASE 1423 ARMY cachet on front and transparent tape OPENED BY U.S ARMY EXAMINER on back. Private stamp JUL 17 1943 in arrival. Letter enclosing a mail deposit receipt. ("SeSi" coll.)

dd July 1943

dd July 1943

Mailed at APO 708 (Santo, New Hebrides) by the same person at Aug, 31, 1943, closed with Army Examiner tape. APO postmark is a different type from that on the previous cover, marked: "Passed by Base 1423 Army Examiner". (unknown coll.)

WW II [not so much postal history, but there is a stamp on it! ]
Hunting license for Santo Island. Headquarters IV Island Command APO #708. (a small pencil drawing of the Lopevi volcano on reverse) (Klinger coll.)

6 September 1943

Mailed at APO 708 (Santo, New Hebrides) by a member of the Army's IV Island Command, Service Command at Mar, 8, 1944, examined by the sender, a Colonel, himself as it looks. Officers were entitled to self-censor their mail. (unknown coll.)

Stationery, posted at Tongoa Island, where Rev. Gillan was the Principal of the Presbyterian Teachers Training Institute. The letter is Army censored (1500) and cancelled by the end of a four-bar date stamp (U.S. Army). Dispatched to the USA (bookshop in LA) by air, courtesy of the U.S. Army via th eisland chain. Arrival handstamp by the addressee on reverse: June 6, 1944.(ex Jersey, Klinger coll.)

Barrett letter from AORE to South Australia. The 10c.or France Libre tied by machine cancel from APO 708 (Jersey n°41) at ESPIRITU SANTO in direct violation of security regulations, but who would controlled routing of mail at Santo on mid 44? At left circular cachet PASSED BY US BASE ARMY EXAMINER 1518. ("SeSi" coll.)

Patriotic cover mailed at APO 27 (Santo, New Hebrides) by a member of 727th ORD (LM) CO. (unknown coll.)

21 December 1944 ( 3 January 1945 )
APO 27 VMail, 102d Engineer Combat Battalion ( 27th Infantry Division New York National Guard ): APO 27 had a VMail station as part of its postal operation in Espiritu Santo (Jersey). First parts of 27th Infantry Division arrived at Espiritu Santo 18 Aug 44 coming from Saipan and the first parts left 25 Mar 45 for Okinawa. (Ruecker coll.)

21 December 1944

Another letter from Pastor H.E Barrett , Seventh Day Adventist Missionary at AORE, to Australia. The 10c.or France Libre tied by a rectangular 6 lines machine cancel without date and an ovoid daub cancellation. On front circular violet cachet PASSED BY US EXAMINER BASE ARMY 1803, reapplied on back with clear adhesive tape OPENED BY US ARMY EXAMINER. Rare civil mail exceptionally handed by US army postal service. ("SeSi" coll.)

1944-45

Letter from Mrs Perry wife of Pastor Perry Seventh Day Adventist Missionary at AORE to Mrs Barrett at WAHROONGA NSW Australia. The French 10c.or stamp tied by Jersey n°39 (but without 708) machine cancel US ARMY POSTAL SERVICE APO JUN 7 1945 . At left circular cachet PASSED BY US EXAMINER BASE NAVY 1421. On back clear adhesive tape OPENED BY US ARMY EXAMINER. ("SeSi" coll.)

7 June 1945