Object Details
Manufacturer
McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
Physical Description
Low wing monoplane with tapered body and V-tail; yellow body, with blue and white stars and bars; hole in rear of fuselage, 6 inches in diameter, for exhaust exit of 8AS1000E JATO powerplant; smaller hole, 3 2/16 inches, above this, purpose unknown.
Black stenciling on side of fuselage: "Gargole [sic.], Anti-Air Craft Target - Modle [sic.] RVT-N2 - Serial No. 102-6 - Hold for National Air Museum." See, however, Marks.
Missile fuselage fitted with mountings (from another Gargoyle in the collection, Cat. # 1966-0036) for a standard aircraft gun camera for data acquisition (camera not in Cat. # 1966-0036 or ib present missile). It appears this camera faced rearward towards a mirror. Mirror also not available in present missile. Images of the readings of instruments within the missile were thus photographed and the film footage later retrieved when the missile was recovered, probably by parachute, the footage then analyzed.
Comes with separate control unit, as a box, aluminum, containing servo motors, and three electric cables with electrical plugs on each of them, two of them with female sockets and one with male sockets; the plugs are mainly aluminum; one is a female Cannon plug; with the smaller female Cannon plug on the other.
This control unit is missing the following components: (1), battery, (2), directional gyro [there is presently an aluminum strap for holding it down],; and (3), a radio.
Summary
This is the Gargoyle, a radio-controlled, rocket-propelled, air-to-surface U.S. Navy missile. It was designed during World War II for use against ships and was launched from carrier-based planes. The Gargoyle used a 1,000-pound warhead. The range was from five to seven miles with a speed of about 600 miles per hour. The powerplant was a standard Aerojet solid-fuel JATO (Jet-Assisted-Take-Off) unit delivering 1,000 pounds of thrust for eight seconds.
Tests were carried in 1945, and it was too late to be used in the war. But testing was continued, especially of its autopilot and other components until its cancellation in 1947. This object was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1974 by the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board.
Alternate Name
Gargoyle Missile
Credit Line
Transferred from National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board
Inventory Number
A19740642000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
Materials
Overall, aluminum; screws, steel; rear fins, wood; camera mount (taken from Cat. # 1974-0642), steel.
Dimensions
Overall: 10 ft. 2 in. long x 1 ft. 8 in. diameter x 8 ft. 6 in. wing span (309.88 x 50.8 x 259.08cm)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station
Rockets & Missiles
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19740642000