Buzz Bomb/ GORGON in Philly NEW PHOTOS ! 4-3-9

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

My son ran acoss this in the Germantown Section of Philly tthe other day.

I remember it being painted in Red White and Blue for the Bicentenial.

Last edited by Jiggersfromsphilly on Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:07 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[daveymac82c]

Wow, that's a pretty neat find.

I suppose it's an American built copy of the V-1 developed shortly after WWII when allied forces were experimenting with cruise missiles.

I'd love to hear the story behind this thing.

Thanks for posting.

Cheers,

David

[Holedigger]

Neither the V-1 or the Loon derivative had the canard...hmmmm....still looking

[retroaviation]

Did they all have that lower vertical fin as well?

Gary the curious.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I would have to say that it looks like a mock-up of a V-1 using a drop tank.
Never seen a V-1 or Loon set-up like that. High wing, lower ventral fin and canards don't seem to match with any experimental versions that I can find.

Jerry

[PbyCat-Guy]

I'll have to take a drive down there and check it out! Thanks.

[bdk]

I would have to say that it looks like a mock-up of a V-1 using a drop tank.
Never seen a V-1 or Loon set-up like that. High wing, lower ventral fin and canards don't seem to match with any experimental versions that I can find.

Jerry

Let's say you're right. Why would anyone do that?

The engine looks about right though.

Where were the Loons built?

[Second Air Force]

Republic built the airframes for the Loon, and Ford built the engines (I think at Willow Run).

That reminds me, does anyone know what became of the JB-2 that was once on display at Florence?

Scott

[JDK]

I would have to say that it looks like a mock-up of a V-1 using a drop tank.
Never seen a V-1 or Loon set-up like that. High wing, lower ventral fin and canards don't seem to match with any experimental versions that I can find.

Jerry

Let's say you're right. Why would anyone do that?

Because they can?

The engine looks about right though.

I agree. But that's it. The fuselage/body looks like a 1960s US style drop tank, IMHO, and is completely wrong for a Loon or a V-1. The wings are 'wrong' as well, there never were canards on any, and while there were different swept versions of the engine mount, there was never a ventral fin.

I'd say a complete mock up except for that engine pod, which is the right shape...

Intriguing. Where are the Mythbusters? It's MEANT to go 'BANG' at the end!

[sgt hawk]

Those guys in Philly (The City of Brotherly Love) invented the "Zip" gun. That thing looks like some "Wise Guy's" neighborhood retaliation equipment.

[Rauhbatz]

I remember seeing that JB2 at Florence (V-1 was always one of my favorite birds, especially the Hawk model version with the plastic orange flame!).

It had an odd color scheme (yellow, gray) but I do recall some nose art on the left forward side of the fuse.

I think it might be at the Warner Robbins Museum as I saw several of the Florence birds there within a storage fence(e.g. the remote control helo that flew off US Destroyers).

Our family used to go past that museum many times on the way to Myrtle Beach (my brother and I actually stopped in after Hurricane Hugo). I regret not being there when the musuem closed as I would have loved to pick up that JB2. Sure would look nice on a pole in our garden!

Any insights from WIXer's on where it wound up would be welcome...

KK

[Jerry O'Neill]

I actually have thought of building a V-1 from just such a drop tank.
Only mine would be much more accurate. I was hoping to do a display featuring Allied examination of a "captured" V-1 at Reading someday.
I'd actually break the "war head" off the front and open up the drop tank so the propellant tanks inside. Canvas walls around the display would say Keep Out Top Secret, and then post an MP to let the public in to see the captured trophy under examination by the lab guys!
Wings would simply be a metal pipe spar and cloth covered shaped foam. Should be fairly simple to make the "replica" the biggest expense would be finding the right drop tank.

Now that the cats outta the bag, someone with more time on their hands will probably beat me to it!
Jerry

[armyjunk2]

Here is what I believe is an original V-1, it is in Greencastle In at the courthouse. I think it probably came from Freeman Field. In Lou Thole's Forgotten Fields of American he has a very interesting story on Freeman.


The V-1 next to the V-2


another couple of birds there

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

I will stop by there next week and take some close ups of this apparent hybrid. Maybe someone at the legion knows its origins.

[tom d. friedman]

the engine housing looks about right, but that's it.