The Bv 246 Hagelkorn (Hailstone) was a German air-to-surface unpowered missile
of World War II. It was an experimental guided glide bomb released by a carrier aircraft, usually Heinkel He 111 or Junkers Ju 88, at a distant range. Stability was attained by a gyroscope, while guidance was to be by a radio beam transmitted from the parent aircraft. The high aspect ratio of the wings provided a very large 1:25 gliding angle which permitted a missile release as far as 210 km (130 miles) from the target, with a release altitude of 35,000 ft. The missile was never deployed.
This wing fabric was removed from the metal core, cement-covered wings of the Smithsonian's Hagelkorn during restoration. The missile and its wings was a gift of the U.S. Naval Supply Center, Cheatham Annex, Williamsburg, Virginia.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
Germany
Type
ARMAMENT-Bombs
Manufacturer
Blohm & Voss
Physical Description
Doped fabric covering
Dimensions
3-D (Folded lengthwise): 289.6 × 25.4 × 10.2cm (9 ft. 6 in. × 10 in. × 4 in.)
Materials
Uncharacterized Fabric
Paint
Inventory Number
A19710759002
Credit Line
Transferred from the U.S. Navy, Naval Supply Center, Cheatham Annex, Williamsburg, Va.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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