Fort Sill in Comanche County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
U.S. JB-2 Loon Guided Missile
Photographed By James Hulse, September 9, 2021
1. U.S. JB-2 Loon Guided Missile Marker
The JB-2 was the first American guided missile (an American copy of the German V1 Flying Bomb) and it was called the Loon, JB-2 (Jet Bomb). Intended for the invasion of Japan, the first JB-2 was launched in October 1944. The war ended, however, before it could be used against the enemy. The JB-2 was launched from a 175 long ramp, elevated to 6 degrees. A fuel-powered catapult or rocket powered launcher propelled the Loon off the ramp. The JB-2 could also be mounted on a solid-fueled rocket sled, which quickly boosted its speed to 250 mph. This allowed the Loon to be launched from a very short platform, such as the deck of a submarine. The JB-2 was powered by a pulse jet engine burning gasoline and reached speeds of 440 mph. Guidance was controlled by a gyroscope, monitored by a magnetic compass to maintain a fixed heading. An altitude control and air-log was used to measure the distance traveled. When the air-log reached its prescribed setting, the arming circuit closed and the controls locked into a dive position causing the missile to plunge to its target. The Loon was accurate within a quarter of a mile at a range of 100 miles.Length
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Weight - 5,025 lbs. - 2,243 kg
Range - 150 miles - 240 km
Warhead - 200 lbs. of high explosive
CCN# 122087
Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 410.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1944.
Location. 34° 40.008′ N, 98° 23.138′ W. Marker is in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Comanche County. Marker is at the intersection of Corral Road and Randolph Road, on the right when traveling west on Corral Road. The marker is located in the central section of Artillery Park at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Sill OK 73503, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S. M21 4.5-inch Rocket Launcher (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M37 105mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); British 5.5-Inch Mark IV Field Gun (a few steps from this marker); Soviet M1931/37 122mm Field Gun (a few steps from this marker); U.S. MGR-1 Honest John Rocket (a few steps from this marker); Japanese Type 41 75mm Regimental Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M1 8-Inch Gun (within shouting
Photographed By James Hulse, September 9, 2021
2. The front view of the U.S. JB-2 Loon Guided Missile
More about this marker. Marker and Museum are located on Fort Sill, an active U.S. military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access for Fort Sill.
Also see . . . U.S. Army Artillery Museum. (Submitted on September 21, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed By James Hulse, September 9, 2021
3. The side view of the U.S. JB-2 Loon Guided Missile
Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
