Missile, Surface-to-Air, Enzian E1, Wings

This experimental World War II German anti-aircraft missile was designed in 1944 by Dr. Hermann Wurster of Messerschmitt with an aerodynamic shape influenced by the Me 163 rocket fighter. Test models in the E-1 series were launched from Karlshagen/Peenemuende in mid-1944, boosted by four Schmidding 109-553 solid dyglycol rockets. The sustainer engine was a RI 210B Walter motor powered by mixed acid and gasoline, which were fed to the chamber by a hydrogen-peroxide-fueled turbopump. The missile was to be controlled by a ground-operator through a joystick, but the missiles ran badly out of control during the early launches. In all 38 launch attempts were made, but the program was cancelled at the end of January 1945.

This particular artifact is a one-piece wing from E1/58 attached through the fuselage forward of the main body. The U.S. Army Air Forces shipped it from Germany in 1946.

This experimental World War II German anti-aircraft missile was designed in 1944 by Dr. Hermann Wurster of Messerschmitt with an aerodynamic shape influenced by the Me 163 rocket fighter. Test models in the E-1 series were launched from Karlshagen/Peenemuende in mid-1944, boosted by four Schmidding 109-553 solid dyglycol rockets. The sustainer engine was a RI 210B Walter motor powered by mixed acid and gasoline, which were fed to the chamber by a hydrogen-peroxide-fueled turbopump. The missile was to be controlled by a ground-operator through the Strassburg-Kehl or Kogge-Brigg joystick system, but the missiles ran badly out of control during the early launches. In all 38 launch attempts were made, but the program was cancelled at the end of January 1945 because it was not competitive with the Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling (see A19890595000), and because the condition of the Third Reich was becoming increasingly desperate. The NASM artifact is marked E1/58, indicating it was the 58th artifact of the test series, and the U.S. Army Air Forces shipped it from Germany in 1946. It lacks the four boosters,and all guidance equipment. This cement test nose simulated the weight of the 300 kg (660 lb.) high-explosive warhead of an operation missile.