#19: Missile Mail
In 1959, the USPS embarked on a venture straight out of a science fiction novel, turning a cruise missile into a mail carrier. Their successful attempt to deliver mail from Virginia to Florida in just 22 minutes might still make today’s fastest delivery services envy. It was a milestone in the mail industry.
In contrast to today’s reliance on digital communications and advanced logistics networks, this method, though unconventional, highlighted an early desire for speed and innovation in mail delivery. While we now rely on more conventional and safer deliveries, this bold step by the USPS remains a fascinating footnote in history.