On 23 February 1936 the first rocket air mail flight took place in Greenwood Lake, New York.
About 1000 people gathered 6000 pieces of mail were placed in asbestos sacks and loaded into the nose of two rockets that were intended to fly to New Jersey. Instead they crashed onto the frozen lake.
The rocketeers and newspapers declared it a success, but the USPS said it was not interested in the possibilities based on the results of this test flight.
Covers are available from that flight, but they are, as would be expected, in the “pretty expensive” range.
Twenty two years later, on 31 December 1958, another rocket mail first took place starting in Clarke County, Nevada (home to Las Vegas). Six rockets were launched, each carrying 1000 pieces of mail. This time the rockets were successful, and transported the mail to Nipton, California. A total distance of about 1 1/2 miles.
The covers were then taken to the Nipton post office for continuation on their routes.
This rocket mail flight was to end the Geophysical Year, and was a fundraiser in support of science students. Covers cost $1, and were sent airmail from Nipton.
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