V-2s in America

In parallel with the ORDCIT project, the US Army's Ordnance Department signed a contract with General Electric to develop surface-to-surface and surface-to-air projectiles in November 1944. This research project was termed Hermes, and produced technology later used in the Redstone. The A-3 rocket was developed as a part of this project. Thirteen A3s were launched between its designation as a test vehicle in 1953 and the cancellation of the program in 1954. The major part of General Electric's research, however, consisted of firing captured German V2s from White Sands under the direction of Werner von Braun (Wilson 1982). In the closing days of the War, German rocket scientists surrendered themselves to advancing American troops rather than allowing themselves to be captured by the Soviets. Their experience launched the American rocket program on its way.

Von Braun and his group had large numbers of V-2 parts at their disposal. After three V-2 flights under the auspices of the British Operation Backfire, the plans, parts, and German rocket scientists had all been taken out of Germany and relocated to New Mexico under Operation Paperclip at the end of World War II. They scientists accepted U.S. contracts, and began launching rockets from White Sands, New Mexico.

Between April 16, 1946 and September 19, 1952, von Braun and General Electric launched more than sixty V2s from the White Sands Proving Grounds as a part of Project Hermes (Wilson 1982, pp. 2-3). Wilson says 63 were launched from White Sands (p. 2), whereas Gatland claims 64 (Gatland 1989, p. 12). It is possible that Gatland accidentally included the launch of a V-2 on September 6, 1947 from the aircraft carrier USS Midway, the first large rocket to be launched from the deck of a ship (Gatland 1989, p. 13) 65 captured German V-2 rockets were fired from White Sands (Clark 1968, p. 53). A rhesus monkey named Albert became the first animal to flyby in a rocket when he was launched in a USAF V-2 rocket in 1948. He was also the first animal to die in a rocket. Six of the V2 launches were as the first stage of the Bumper rocket. Initial launches focused on achieving altitude, but later were intended to achieve large downrange distances.

V2 Launches from White Sands Proving Grounds

Launch Date	Veh.	Alt.	DR	Launch Site	Status
		(km)	(km)
04-16-1946	1	5.5	8	WSPG	Veered off course; fin tore away
05-10-1946	2	112	56	WSPG
12-17-1946	17	185		WSPG
09-06-1947				WSPG	launched from USS Midway
1948				WSPG	monkey Albert killed
05-1951		210		WSPG	unladen V2
06-14-1951	55			WSPG	exploded at launch
09-19-1952	63 (64?)			WSPG	final launch

WSPG=White Sands Proving Grounds, NM. Source: Wilson (1982).

The V2 and WAC Corporal programs were combined on June 20, 1947 into the Bumper program (Gatland 1989, p. 13). The WAC Corporal was used as an upper stage on the V2, producing Americas first large multi-staged rocket. This combination was named Bumper, and reached an altitude of 405 kilometers on February 24, 1949.

Bumper Launches

Launch Date	Veh.	Alt.	DR	Launch Site	Status
		(km)	(km)
05-13-1948	1			WSPG	altitude and staging launch
	2			WSPG	altitude and staging launch
	3			WSPG	altitude and staging launch
	4			WSPG	altitude and staging launch
02-24-1949	5	405	136	WSPG	altitude and staging launch
	6			WSPG	altitude and staging launch
07-24-1950	8	15	200	LRPG 3	downrange launch
	7			LRPG 3	downrange launch

WSPG=White Sands Proving Grounds, LRPG=Long Range Proving Grounds (Cape Canaveral) Source: Wilson (1982)

References

V2 Rocket