And Sudden Death

The CO2 Dart Gun, also known as the "Flying Dragon" (SAC-46), was a gas-fired weapon developed by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor of the CIA, during World War II as part of its search for silent, non-flash weapons. Initial designs began in 1943, despite skepticism about its feasibility and effectiveness. By 1944, the weapon was determined to be potentially useful at ranges of 75–100 feet if combined with a suitable poison, though no effective toxin was identified at the time.

In 1945, development continued following a request for 12 units for a special mission. Six prototypes were created, tested, and modified, with an additional nine produced. Despite being quieter (69 dB) than most silenced firearms, the CO2 gun was less accurate and powerful than its counterparts. Comparative tests found the silenced .22 pistol to be more effective and economical.

An experimental variant featured a self-propelled dart, integrating the CO2 cartridge and projectile into one unit, but this design was abandoned after limited testing. By the end of the war, the OSS had 12 CO2 guns and over 1,000 darts in inventory, but the weapon was never widely adopted.

An OSS report titled "Final Report, Weapons, Dart Type," dated September 25, 1945, discussed various dart weapons, including a hypodermic dart gun code-named "And Sudden Death," named after a 1936 film. This project, initiated on October 30, 1942, was terminated in April 1943 without producing any units, as “it was deemed inadvisable to follow this project to completion.” In the postwar era, interest in such weapons resurfaced: