White Sands in Doρa Ana County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Hermes A1
Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024
1. Hermes A1 Marker
Inscription.
Hermes A1. . The development of the 25 ft tall Hermes A-1 rocket was begun by General Electric in 1946. Constructed mostly of steel, it was an American version of the German Wasserfall anti-aircraft missile; the Wasserfall was about 1/2 the size of the German V-2 and was designed during the war but never built. Hermes A-1 had one major difference from the Wasserfall. The Peenemunde Nitric Acid-Visol fueled engine was replaced by a General Electric pressure fed 13,500 lb. thrust Liquid Oxygen-Alcohol fueled engine. Beginning in 1947, the engine of the A-1 was tested at General Electric's Malta Test Station in New York. The G.E. engine had a unique fuel injector which had great influence on future engine development in the USA. Combustion instability problems delayed engine development., Hermes A-1 components such as guidance and telemetry were tested on several V-2 flights at White Sands Proving Grounds in 1947 and 1948. Plans to develop Hermes A-1 as an operational surface to air missile were dropped in favor of the more suitable Nike Ajax. On 18 May 1950 the Army switched emphasis for Project Hermes to the surface to surface mission. The next day the Hermes A-1 first flew. The launch failed when thrust was lost shortly after lift-off. The second flight failed after 41 seconds when the hydraulic servo covers were burned through by engine exhaust. None of the three subsequent Hermes A-1 flights were totally successful, though "they demonstrated the functional capability of the missile system." Those last three launches achieved apogees of 14 miles.
The development of the 25 ft tall Hermes A-1 rocket was begun by General Electric in 1946. Constructed mostly of steel, it was an American version of the German Wasserfall anti-aircraft missile; the Wasserfall was about 1/2 the size of the German V-2 and was designed during the war but never built. Hermes A-1 had one major difference from the Wasserfall. The Peenemunde Nitric Acid-Visol fueled engine was replaced by a General Electric pressure fed 13,500 lb. thrust Liquid Oxygen-Alcohol fueled engine. Beginning in 1947, the engine of the A-1 was tested at General Electric's Malta Test Station in New York. The G.E. engine had a unique fuel injector which had great influence on future engine development in the USA. Combustion instability problems delayed engine development.
Hermes A-1 components such as guidance and telemetry were tested on several V-2 flights at White Sands Proving Grounds in 1947 and 1948. Plans to develop Hermes A-1 as an operational surface to air missile were dropped in favor of the more suitable Nike Ajax. On 18 May 1950 the Army switched emphasis for Project Hermes to the surface to surface mission. The next day the Hermes A-1 first flew. The launch failed when thrust was lost shortly after lift-off. The second flight failed after 41 seconds when the hydraulic servo covers were burned through by engine
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exhaust. None of the three subsequent Hermes A-1 flights were totally successful, though "they demonstrated the functional capability of the missile system." Those last three launches achieved apogees of 14 miles.
Erected by White Sands Missile Range Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is May 18, 1950.
Location. 32° 23.128′ N, 106° 28.691′ W. Marker is in White Sands, New Mexico, in Doρa Ana County. It is on Wsmr P Rt 1 (New Mexico Route 213) 4 miles south of U.S. 70. The marker and various missiles are located on the grounds of the White Sands Missile Range Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: White Sands Missile Range NM 88002, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Rio Grande Valley. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Gadsden Purchase, and the Republic of Texas.
sectionhead>More about this marker. The marker and museum are located on the White Sands Missile Range, an active U.S. military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access.
Project Hermes was a missile research program run by the Ordnance Corps of the United States Army from November 15, 1944, to December 31, 1954, in response to Germany's rocket attacks in Europe during World War II. The program was to determine the missile needs of army field forces. A research and development partnership between the Ordnance Corps and General Electric started November 20, 1944 and resulted in the "development of long-range missiles that could be used against both ground targets and high-altitude aircraft.
(Submitted on July 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
The first Hermes A-1 test rocket was fired at White Sand Proving Ground (WSPG). Hermes was a modified V-2 German rocket, utilizing the German aerodynamic configuration; however, internally it was a completely new design. Although it did not result in an operational vehicle, the information that was gathered in the process contributed directly to the development of the Redstone rocket.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 341 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
