Republic-Ford JB-2 Loon — the reverse engineered V-1
Shortly after the Fieseler Vergeltungswaffe 1 (V-1, or “Buzz Bomb”) began falling upon London, Republic Aviation had copied the airframe of the weapon and the Ford Motor Company had reverse engineered the Argus Schmidt pulse jet engine. America had a crudely guided cruise missile and ordered 1000 copies for use during the upcoming invasion of Japan. The atomic bombing, which finally forced Japan to surrender, rendered them moot.
This example of the Loon hangs in the Air Force Armament Museum and this excellent fact sheet is from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Nose on view of the Republic-Ford JB-2 Loon in the Air Force Armament Museum — photo by Joseph May
A simple airframe powered by a simple pulse jet engine gave the Loon a high potential to survive anti aircraft fire — photo by Joseph May
Ventral view of the Loon — photo by Joseph May
Suspended as in its terminal dive initiated when a distance device terminated fuel flow to the engine — photo by Joseph May
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