The Day the US Postal Service Tried Missile Mail

The Day the US Postal Service Tried Missile Mail On 8 June 1959, the United States Navy fired a Regulus cruise missile from the submarine USS Barbero off the coast of Florida. Inside, replacing the nuclear warhead, was a postal canister containing three thousand letters. Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield watched the launch and declared it of historic significance to the peoples of the entire world. The missile travelled roughly one hundred miles, landed at Naval Air Station Mayport, and the mail was retrieved and stamped with a special ‘MISSILE MAIL’ postmark. Summerfield genuinely believed this was the future of postal delivery, envisioning coast-to-coast routes by cruise missile. The programme was never repeated. Also on this date: Robespierre presided over the Festival of the Supreme Being in 1794, weeks before his own execution; banker Alexander Fordyce fled to France in 1772, triggering a credit crisis across Britain and the Dutch Republic; two pilots died when an F-104 Starfighter collided with an XB-70 Valkyrie in 1966; and the descendants of the Bounty mutineers arrived at Norfolk Island in 1856 to begin a new settlement. Chapters Missile Mail and Cold War Postal Ambitions On 8 June 1959, the USS Barbero fired a Regulus cruise missile containing three thousand letters, landing at Naval Air Station Mayport in Florida. Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield believed missile mail was the future, envisioning transcontinental delivery routes. The programme was never pursued further, but the letters were delivered and postmarked, some ending up in museums. Robespierre’s Festival, Fordyce’s Flight, and Other Events Robespierre presided over the Festival of the Supreme Being in Paris on 8 June 1794, weeks before his arrest and execution. Scottish banker Alexander Fordyce fled to France on 8 June 1772, triggering a major credit crisis. On 8 June 1966, an F-104 Starfighter collided with an XB-70 Valkyrie near Edwards Air Force Base, killing two pilots. On 8 June 1856, descendants of the Bounty mutineers arrived at Norfolk Island to establish a new settlement. Links https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_mail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Barbero_(SS-317) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_of_the_Supreme_Being https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Fordyce https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_crisis_of_1772 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XB-70_Valkyrie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitcairn_Islands https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Island