1947 NY Times newspaper 1st CRUISE MISSILE ROCKET test with photo & description - inv # 2U-338

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SEE PHOTO(s) - COMPLETE ORIGINAL NEWSPAPER, the NY Times dated April 21, 1947. This original newspaper contains a prominent inside page photo and long report of the first US test of a CRUISE MISSILE Rocket, the KUW-1 "Loon",  using the German V-1 "Buzz bomb" as a template for it.

Photo and text of a very very early CRUISE MISSILE

The Republic-Ford JB-2, also known as the Thunderbug, KGW and LTV-N-2 Loon, was a United States copy of the German V-1 flying bomb. Developed in 1944, and planned to be used in the United States invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall), the JB-2 was never used in combat. It was the most successful of the United States Army Air Forces Jet Bomb (JB) projects (JB-1 through JB-10) during World War II. Postwar, the JB-2 played a significant role in the development of more advanced surface-to-surface tactical missile systems such as the MGM-1 Matador and later MGM-13 Mace.

The U.S. Navy's version, the KGW-1 was intended for installation on surface ships and shore installations. In 1946 it was re-designated KUW as a test vehicle, then renamed LTV-N-2. The first launch of a LTV-N-2 was from Point Mugu, California on January 7, 1946. The initial land based launch facilities at Point Mugu closely resembled those at area A-10 at Eglin AAF. Later the facilities at Point Mugu were expanded to include the XM1 launch ramp and the Rolling Ramp which designed to provide rolling movements to simulate launching from a ship. As KUW/LTV-N-2 and given the name of an aquatic bird the "Loon" it was developed to be carried on the aft deck of submarines in watertight containers. The submarine to carry the LTV-N-2 was USS Cusk (SS-348) which successfully launched its first Loon on 12 February 1947, off Point Mugu, CA. The submarine USS Carbonero (SS-337) was modified to provide mid-course guidance for Loon. The Carbonero also carried a missile launcher. The LTV-N-2 was equipped with an AN/ANP-33 radar transponder. Shore based launches were tracked and controlled from aeither a SP-1W, SCR-584 or SV-4 radar. Submarine and ship radars were SV-1 type. Telemetry was supplied by either a AN/AKT-1A or AN/AKT-10. LTV-N-2 flights were terminated either by a "dump" command sent to the missile or by one sent from the air log propeller. The Navy program lasted until the last launch of a LTV-N-2 on September 11, 1953. The LTV-N-2 program developed a number of launchers and varied launching techniques, variations in guidance, command guidance computers, the TROUNCE guidances system for SSM-N-8 Regulus, telemetry systems, flight termination, and tested a J30 turbojet as a power plant. The oerational reliability of the LTV-N-2 was calculated to be 61.8% but in practice turned out to be only 55.9% The Navy concluded that the reliability of the Loon could not be significantly altered as "improved techniques have just kept pace with component deterioration." The missiles all were manufactured in 1945-46 and were getting old.

Excellent condition. This listing includes the complete entire original newspaper, NOT just a clipping or a page of it. STEPHEN A. GOLDMAN HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS stands behind all of the items that we sell with a no questions asked, money back guarantee. Every item we sell is an original newspaper printed on the date indicated at the beginning of its description. U.S. buyers pay priority mail postage which includes waterproof plastic and a heavy cardboard flat to protect the purchased item from damage in the mail. Upon request by the buyer, we can ship by USPS Media Mail to reduce postage cost; however, please be aware that USPS Media Mail can be very slow in its time of transit to the buyer. International postage is quoted when we are informed as to where the package is to be sent. We do combine postage (to reduce postage costs) for multiple purchases sent in the same package.  We list thousands of rare newspapers with dates from 1570 through 2004 on Ebay each week. This is truly SIX CENTURIES OF HISTORY that YOU CAN OWN!

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