Postal Letter

Would you believe it if I told you the US Post office once explored transporting mail via a missile?

It's true.. http://www.usps.com/history/his2_75.htm#ZIP Throughout its history, the Postal Service enthusiastically has explored faster, more efficient forms of mail transportation. Technologies now commonplace -- railroads, automobiles, and airplanes -- were embraced by the Post Office Department at their radical birth, when they were considered new-fangled, unworkable contraptions by many. One such technology, however, remains only a footnote in the history of mail delivery. On June 8, 1959, in a move a postal official heralded as "of historic significance to the peoples of the entire world," the Navy submarine U.S.S. Barbero fired a guided missile carrying 3,000 letters at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Mayport, Florida. "Before man reaches the moon," the official was quoted as saying, "mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to Britain, to India or Australia by guided missiles." History proved differently, but this experiment with missile mail exemplifies the pioneering spirit of the Post Office Department when it came to developing faster, better ways of moving the mail.

Public Comments

1. very interesting your post office story....
2. It's not possible to believe, considering it is the US Navy. Thank goodness for the many years later and new technology of e-mail.
3. wow interesting
4. very interesting , because i work for postoffice
5. They done that in Scotland years ago, they fired a rocket from the mainland of Scotland to an island maybe a mile or so from the mainland because during the winter months boats could not land due to bad weather, cant remember the name of the island though, not exactly intercontinental but it was rocket post
6. Knew it already but good for you learning it. I watch public TV and documentaries myself.