DE-253807
Originally uploaded by MagicTyger
“Ile de France”, French Line. Built 1927. A Postcrossing Postcard from Maren who lives in the west of Germany on the River Rhine.
The “Ile de France” was the first major ocean liner built after WW1, and was entirely decorated with Art Deco designs. She was considered the most beautifully decorated ship built until the SS Normandie.
Her dining room was said to be magnificent – three decks high, with a grand staircase.
She boasted a gymnasium, shooting gallery, a gothic style chapel and merry-go-round/
Her entrance foyer was four decks high, and cabins boasted beds instead of bunks.
She was the fastest mailship of her time. Not because of excessive speed, but because she had a sea-plane catapult at her stern. When the ship was within 200 miles of land, she would launch the mail in a seaplane. Thus the mail would arrive sooner than if it had stayed aboard the ship.
She had a distinguished record in World War 2, on loan to the British admiiralty.
She was eventually sold to Japansese scrap merchants in 1959.
What a grand old ship.
Thanks for the postcard, Maren!
