Blackpool and West Coast Air Services

Blackpool and West Coast Air services was founded on 3rd April 1933 by Liverpool Aero club instructor Capt. John Higgins with two Merseyside businessman and it acquired the lease of Blackpool’s Squire Gate Aerodrome. Two DH 83 Fox Moths were purchased for pleasure and charter flying from Squires Gate and were soon making trips to the Isle of Man. A DH dragon was delivered in July 1933 and began daily services linking Blackpool, Liverpool and the Isle of Man. By the end of September when the operation shut down for the Winter, 38,000 miles had been flown and 1,863 passengers carried. These figures were more than doubled during the following year. Needing additional capital for expansion in October 1934, B&WCAS sold out to Olley Air services of Croydon who early in the following year formed Isle of Man Air services. For the 1935 season, three dragons were now available, allowing a frequency increase to thrice daily and additional daily services to Belfast. Blackpool and West Coast Air Services (who later shortened their name to West Coast Air Services) were awarded a contract by the Post Office to fly first class mail between Liverpool and Ronaldsway, Isle of Man. The service started on 1st February 1935. The company used their own covers, which bear their crest in green on the flap, as souvenirs of the flights, and privately produced covers, bearing the company crest in black on the front bottom left of the envelope, were also flown. Towards the end of the year the contract was transferred to United Airways. However, West Coast Air Services were awarded the Liverpool to Ronaldsway contract again, beginning services on 2nd November 1936. The contract then passed to Isle of Man Air Services on 26th September 1937

Blackool and West Coast Air Services. First Flight on Air Mail contract 1st February 1935

There were three type of envelope sent on the first flight of 1st February 1935. The first was a plain envelope with a six-line cachet.

The third type was the official company envelope signed by the Station Superintendent and with the company crest in apple green on the flap.

Fake Coronation Cover. 12th May 1937

Of particular interest is the ‘Redgrove Fake Coronation cover’ of which he writes. “ i) At no time has mail been flown direct from the Isle of Man to Blackpool. IOM-Blackpool mail is flown to Liverpool only and railed from there. ii) On the date in question, the air mail service from the Isle of Man was entirely suspended. iii) Captain Higgins did not sign the covers. They are forgeries.” Some like the one below found their way to collectors before Redgrove’s exposure, but the rest were destroyed.”