Flying Sheep

The Italo-Ethiopian War, which lasted from 1935 to 1936, served as a forerunner to WWII, with Italy attempting to seize control of Ethiopia. The Italian forces optional to cross the Danakil desert, a 120-mile stretch of volcanoes and unforgiving terrain dubbed "the cruelest place on Earth" by National Geographic. If the troops were to make it, they needed to travel light, which meant carrying minimal supplies.

According to legend, Italian troops were picky eaters who refused to consume pre-packaged meals, but fresh meat would have perished. As a result, the military chose to deliver supplies by air. While this notion was novel at the time, it is by no means novel today. What was fresh and strange was that the Italians dropped live sheep. So that the Italians might enjoy fresh meat, 72 sheep and two bulls were airdropped. Because of the inconvenience it caused, this experiment was subsequently scrapped.

Year of Experiment: 1935