The US Post Office has guided missiles!

[Darth Wong]

Or at least they had them, a half-century ago.

On June 8 1959 (almost exactly 50 years ago), the US Post Office commenced an experiment in an unprecedented method of mail delivery: mail delivery via guided missile.

A missile was installed into the USS Barbero (which had been temporarily established to be a “postal branch”) and 3000 letters were stamped and inserted as the payload. The missile was fired from sea and flew to Mayport, Florida, where the payload was deployed via parachute and the letters were collected and taken to Jacksonville for processing.

Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield remarked: “This peacetime employment of a guided missile is the first known use of missiles by any post office.” He predicted “Before man reaches the Moon, mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to Britain, to India, or Australia by guided missiles. We stand on the threshold of rocket mail.”

Oh, those wacky 1950s people. But wouldn’t rocket mail be cool?

More details: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/museum/1 ... sMail.html

Clearly, Shep joined the Post Office 50 years too late.

[Vehrec]

Nah, he hates ICBMs. Bombers are the only way to deliver your airmail!

[Kanastrous]

Nuclear powered rocket-delivered mail, a la Project Pluto. That would be cool.

[TimothyC]

Nah, he hates ICBMs. Bombers are the only way to deliver your airmail!

The missile in question was a modified SSM-N-8 Regulus Cruise Missile, Not an SLBM.

[Pelranius]

Hmm, maybe this would workable into the Salvation War. Where's Stuart?

There are literally thousands of old Soviet origin missiles (such as those Styx/Silkworm derivatives) lying around. Of course, the danger is that one of them might blow up in midflight.

[The Yosemite Bear]

yes, but folks like senator Stevens, are still picturing the giant bank tube email system....

[Davey]

Damn, looks like someone beat me to that idea. Still, it would be awesome if anyone ever did this. The question is, what happens if they miss?

[Vympel]

I can just imagine the changes in laws required for service of documents.

"Service shall be considered effected in circumstances where the person to be served did not receive the mail, but it can be demonstrated that said person did intercept the rocket with a guided interceptor, unguided anti-aircraft shells, or otherwise, by reference to radar records to be ...."

[Oskuro]

Of course, the danger is that one of them might blow up in midflight.

Wich is a more awesome way to lose your mail than an unspecified processing hiccup.

[Havok]

This is pretty cool. I could just imagine the damage and chaos a fully guided missile US Postal service would cause.

And as for 50s people, I think we could do with a little of their imagination and optimism.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Yeah, Shep could bring "Going Postal" to a whole new level....

[CaptainChewbacca]

I am concerned that the US Postal Service may have ended up with an arsenal similar to that of SAC.

[Themightytom]

Wouldn't this get dicey around crhistmas? Rockets crisscrossing the a sky ccrowded by lanunching and landing airplanes? there'd be bodies and fruitcake everywhere..

Even if its just envelopes, it makes the Anthrax guy that much more deadly

[KroLazuxy_87]

Ted Kaczynski just came in his little orange jumpsuit.