Country of Origin: Germany
Dimensions:
Enzian assembled: 7ft 10 1/2in. x 2ft 10 5/8in. x 13ft 1 1/2in. (240 x 88 x 400cm)
Materials:
Wood with metal attachments
This experimental World War II German anti-aircraft missile was designed in 1944 by Dr. Hermann Wurster of Messerschmitt with an aerodynamic shape influenced by the Me 163 rocket fighter. Test models in the E-1 series were launched from Karlshagen/Peenemuende in mid-1944, boosted by four Schmidding 109-553 solid dyglycol rockets. The sustainer engine was a RI 210B Walter motor powered by mixed acid and gasoline, which were fed to the chamber by a hydrogen-peroxide-fueled turbopump. The missile was to be controlled by a ground-operator through a joystick, but the missiles ran badly out of control during the early launches. In all 38 launch attempts were made, but the program was cancelled at the end of January 1945.
The NASM artifact is a collection of fairings and miscellaneous parts to the Enzian. The U.S. Army Air Forces shipped the missile from Germany in 1946.
Donor Unknown
