Dr. Herbert Wagner's missile group at Henschel Aircraft in World War II Germany designed this small, experimental, air-to-air missile. A Schmidding solid rocket propelled the Hs 298 for about 25 seconds, and the pilot in the launch aircraft guided it using a joystick and transmitter.
The initial Hs 298 V1 design, first tested in 1944, had a different wing, square fins, a warhead on top, and a generator propeller below. Henschel built more than 300 V1s model and over 100 V2s, but the project was cancelled in early 1945 in favor of the Ruhrstahl X-4, which performed better. The Smithsonian obtained this missile from the U.S. Navy in 1948.
Display Status
This object is on display in Rockets & Missiles at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.
Object Details
Country of Origin
Germany
Type
CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
Manufacturer
Henschel Flugzeugwerke
Dimensions
Overall: 1 ft. 4 5/16 in. tall x 8 ft. 4 3/16 in. long x 4 ft. 2 3/16 in. wing span, 275.6 lb. (41.5 x 254.5 x 127.4cm, 125kg)
Materials
Aluminum
Alternate Name
Hs 298 Missile
Inventory Number
A19510066000
Credit Line
Transferred from the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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