Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities – "Fly By Night" Episode Summary

Release Date: April 8, 2025

In the "Fly By Night" episode of Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities, listeners are treated to two enthralling tales that navigate the murky waters of historical oddities and human failings. This episode masterfully intertwines stories from different eras, showcasing the unpredictable nature of ambition and the unforeseen consequences of misguided endeavors.

1. Daniel Sickles: A Career Marred by Failures and Infamy

Timestamp: 01:07 – 06:01

The episode opens with the story of Daniel Sickles, a man whose pursuit of honor and recognition seemingly backfired at every turn. Initially establishing himself as a competent lawyer, Sickles quickly ascended to the political arena, being elected to the House of Representatives in 1856. However, his personal life was fraught with scandal and poor judgment.

• Infamous Relationships: Sickles was notorious for his womanizing behavior. He notoriously brought sex workers into congressional chambers and even introduced a sex worker to Queen Victoria, tarnishing his reputation as a respectable congressman. His most egregious personal failure involved marrying a 15-year-old girl, Teresa, whom he impregnated. His neglectful and adulterous behavior led Teresa to seek companionship elsewhere, notably with Philip Barton Key, the son of Francis Scott Key, the author of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

• Murder and Trial: The adulterous affair between Teresa and Philip Key led Sickles to a moment of rage. Determined to assert his manhood, Sickles confronted Key and fatally shot him twice on the streets of Washington. This act of violence could have ended his career, but Sickles employed a groundbreaking legal strategy by pleading temporary insanity—a first in U.S. history. His defense portrayed him as a victim of his wife's infidelity, leading to his acquittal.

  "Daniel took it as a win and prepared to take on a new role, that of a Civil War general." (02:45)

• Civil War General: Despite lacking a formal military background, Sickles leveraged his social standing to secure a position as a major general. His leadership was, however, far from exemplary. At the Battle of Gettysburg, Sickles made the fateful decision to occupy the Peach Orchard, disregarding military orders. This move created a vulnerable gap in the Union lines, resulting in significant casualties under intense enemy assault. Sickles himself was grievously injured by a cannonball, leading to the amputation of his leg.

  "Samuel Clemens... was brought along on one of these tours. This led Twain to remark, the general valued his lost leg away above the one that is left." (05:50)

• Legacy of Failure: Despite his failures as a congressman and a general, Sickles remained undeterred, continually manipulating his circumstances to present his missteps as personal victories. His involvement in the preservation of the Gettysburg battlefield as a national park stands as a minor redeeming note amidst a career otherwise marked by controversy and incompetence.

  "Instead of being a high achiever, Daniel Sickles was a frequent failure. But he always spun his failures into personal wins." (05:30)

2. Dr. Lytle Adams and Project X Ray: The Bats That Almost Were Weapons of War

Timestamp: 07:25 – 12:16

The second narrative transports listeners to the tumultuous days of World War II, focusing on Dr. Lytle Adams, affectionately known as "Doc." Unlike typical military inventors, Doc was a dentist whose serene vacation in the Carlsbad Caverns became the catalyst for an audacious and bizarre military project.

• Inception of an Unorthodox Idea: Witnessing millions of bats swarm from the caverns left an indelible mark on Doc Adams. Shortly after, the Pearl Harbor attack galvanized him into action. Despite his age—60 years old—Doc was determined to contribute to the war effort. His initial thoughts on military dentistry soon evolved into a revolutionary, albeit unsettling, weapon concept.

  "Imagine your neighborhood burning to the ground while winged balls of flame plummet from the sky." (11:30)

• Project X Ray: Doc's vision was to harness bats as vehicles for incendiary bombs. The idea was to capture millions of Mexican bats, equip them with tiny bombs, and disperse them over enemy territories. A parachute would deploy at 4,000 feet, releasing the bats to seek shelter in dark recesses before a timer detonated the explosives, causing widespread devastation.

• Assembling a Diverse Team: Securing immediate support from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Doc amassed a team reminiscent of a Hollywood heist crew. The eclectic group included a pilot, a former mobster, marine brothers, a biologist, teenage lab assistants, and a renowned Harvard chemist famed for inventing napalm. Their mission was codenamed Project X Ray, a top-secret endeavor housed in a secure Air Force base in New Mexico.

• Challenges and Catastrophes: The project faced numerous hurdles, from sourcing and managing volatile bomb components to dealing with the unpredictability of bat behavior. A significant setback occurred when six incomplete devices accidentally detonated, incinerating the base's new airfield. Despite these obstacles, the team persevered, eventually developing a prototype that demonstrated unprecedented destructive capability during simulated tests.

  "The village didn't just burn to the ground, it was completely immolated." (10:15)

• Demise of the Project: Just as momentum was building towards mass production, budget cuts in 1944 forced a critical decision. The military opted to fund the more promising Manhattan Project, which aimed to develop the atomic bomb, over the unconventional and ethically dubious Project X Ray. Consequently, Adams' team was disbanded, and the bat-based weapon never saw active deployment.

• Ethical Implications and Legacy: The cancellation of Project X Ray not only spared countless lives and preserved millions of bats but also steered military innovation towards a path that would forever alter the course of history. The harrowing image of incendiary-laden bats remains a testament to the lengths of wartime ingenuity and the moral quandaries that accompany such inventions.

  "Canceling Doc Adams project prevented that image from becoming a reality and spared the lives of millions of bats." (11:50)

Conclusion

"Fly By Night" offers a compelling exploration of individuals whose ambitions led them down paths of infamy and ethical ambiguity. Through the tragic tale of Daniel Sickles and the unsettling narrative of Dr. Lytle Adams, the episode underscores the thin line between innovation and moral responsibility. Aaron Mahnke masterfully weaves these stories, inviting listeners to ponder the complexities of human nature and the unforeseen repercussions of our actions.

"Stay curious." (12:16)

For those intrigued by these curious historical anecdotes, Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities continues to deliver thought-provoking stories that illuminate the bizarre and extraordinary facets of our past. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or visit curiositiespodcast.com to embark on more such guided tours through the Cabinet of Curiosities.