Delta had high hopes of winning a badly needed mail contract in 1930, to cover the expenses of flying passengers. Instead, the contract went to AVCO, predecessor of American Airlines, forcing Delta to suspend passenger service in October 1930 and sell its planes.
In 1934, Delta got a chance to win back the route it had pioneered, when the new Franklin D. Roosevelt administration canceled all airmail contracts and called for new bids. A bid of 24.8 cents per pound won Air Mail Route 24.
Stinson T aircraft carried Delta's very first air mail on July 4, 1934. Passenger service resumed on August 5th.
Delta operated its Stinson Ts in the same basic paint scheme they wore on arrival from American: a dark navy blue with a fire engine red cheat line and lighting bolt (with a simple company name change on the fuselage).
