Fire!

This letter, mailed on August 10, 1939 from Marlborough, England to Zürich, was loaded aboard an ill-fated flight from London to Basel. The following day, August 11, the plane caught fire 50 miles before reaching Basel. The pilot was able to safely land at Saint Suaveur, France from whence the 9 saved passengers made their way to Basel. The mail, however, suffered significant fire damage as illustrated by this salvaged cover.

Courtesy envelope containing the charred cover explains that the delay in delivery was due to the aircraft accident.