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This is the Corporal, America's first operational guided missile. The liquid-propellant Corporal was equipped with a conventional or atomic warhead and ranged 75 miles. It was guided by a beam-riding guidance system and gyro-controlled graphite jet exhaust vanes. The California Institute of Technology's GALCIT (Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory, California Institute of Technology) began development of the Corporal in 1944.

It was first successfully fired in 1947. Its development, however, was slow, and it did not became operational until 1954. The Corporal was furnished to the U.S. and British armies and was also stationed in Italy. The Corporal went out of service in 1966.

This missile was donated to the Smithsonian in 1968 by the U.S. Navy.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Rockets & Missiles at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Rockets & Missiles
Object Details
Date ca. 1950-1958 Country of Origin United States of America Type CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets Manufacturer Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
 Dimensions 3-D (Aluminum Pallet Storage): 121.9 × 121.9 × 35.6cm, 91.2kg (4 ft. × 4 ft. × 1 ft. 2 in., 201lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 1): 74.9 × 91.4 × 10.2cm, 19.5kg (2 ft. 5 1/2 in. × 3 ft. × 4 in., 43lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 2): 74.9 × 91.4 × 10.2cm, 19.5kg (2 ft. 5 1/2 in. × 3 ft. × 4 in., 43lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 3): 76.2 × 6.3 × 10.2cm, 8.6kg (2 ft. 6 in. × 2 1/2 in. × 4 in., 19lb.)
3-D (Lifting Bracket 4): 81.3 × 7.6 × 3.8cm, 5kg (2 ft. 8 in. × 3 in. × 1 1/2 in., 11lb.)
Overall: 36 ft. 4 1/2 in. × 2 ft. 6 in., 2960lb. (1108.7 × 76.2cm, 1342.6kg)
 Materials Overall, non-ferrous metal, possibly aluminum; steel screws around body; white plastic inserts in at least two holes around base of missile.
 Alternate Name Corporal Missile Inventory Number A19680010002 Credit Line Transferred from U.S. Navy Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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