Effective August 1, 1941, Transcontinental and Western Air diverted two round-trip flights from the New York / Newark - Philadelphia - Harrisburg - Pittsburgh segment and operated an alternate direct route via Reading, between Newark and Pittsburgh westbound on one flight and between Newark and Harrisburg westbound on the other flight. Eastbound, Reading was served on both flights only between Pittsburgh and New York.

No cachet was provided for the inaugural mail from Newark. 

This cover was carried on the inaugural Air Mail Route 2 flight from Newark, New Jersey to Reading, Pennsylvania (where it was backstamped) and is listed in the Contract Air Mail Flights (CAM) section of The American Air Mail Catalogue as R34E44.

Charles Riess, a noted air mail historian, prepared the cover.

In January 2001, Trans World Airlines filed for a third and final bankruptcy and was acquired by American Airlines. American Airlines laid off many former TWA employees in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. TWA continued to exist as an LLC under American Airlines until July 1, 2003 at which time all operations were integrated into American Airlines.