In 1944, McDonnell won the contract to build the Gargoyle missile to counter German guided anti-ship glide bombs. Carried by carrier-based aircraft, the LBD-1 Gargoyle glide bomb was to be equipped with a 1,000-pound armor-piercing warhead.
The Gargoyle's Aerojet solid-propellant rocket booster allowed it to reach a high diving speed. A bright flair in its tail allowed operators to monitor its progress and correct its trajectory via radio.
Glide tests of the LBD-1 began in March 1945, followed by the first powered flights in July. It was redesignated as a KSD-1 anti-shipping missile in 1945, but World War II ended before it was deployed. It then became a research vehicle and designated KUD-1, which first flew in July 1946.
McDonnell produced 250 Gargoyles before production ended in mid-1947. The remaining missiles, redesignated as RTV-2 in September 1947 and RTV-N-2 in early 1948, were used to test components for other guided missile programs. In December 1950, the program was officially terminated and surviving missiles were scrapped.
| First flight: | March 1944 |
|---|---|
| Model number: | KSD-1 (RTV-N-2) |
| Length: | 10 feet 1 inch |
| Wingspan: | 8 feet 6 inches |
| Weight: | 1,500 pounds |
| Speed: | 600 mph |
| Range: | 5 miles |
| Propulsion: | Aerojet 8AS100 solid-fueled rocket |
| Warhead: | 1,000-pound armor-piercing |