MISSILE MAIL

Since the first postmaster general was appointed in 1775, mail delivery methods have continued to change, thanks to war, economic turmoil, and breakthrough technologies.  Mail has traveled by stagecoach, the Pony Express, railroad, boats, airplanes – even hot air balloons and spaceships!  But… have you ever heard of missile mail?

The idea of using rockets or missiles to deliver the mail goes all the way back to 1810 in Germany.  The idea was actually put into practice decades later in Tonga, but proved to be unreliable.  The first rocket mail was launched in April of 1931 with 102 pieces of mail between Schöckl and St. Radegund, Austria.  That flight was successful and several others were staged through 1932.  The rocket mail craze spread to several other countries and was usually supported by stamp collectors.

US #3373-77 2000 U.S. Navy Submarines Block of 5

On June 8, 1959, the US Post Office Department launched its first missile mail from a submarine to the Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Mayport, Florida.  It traveled about 600 miles per hour, reaching its destination 100 miles away in 22 minutes!