Republic-Ford JB-2
| JB-2/KGW Loon | |
|---|---|
Republic-Ford JB-2 at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. 2018 | |
| Type | Cruise missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1945–53 |
| Used by | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Republic Aircraft Willys-Overland Ford Motor Company |
| Produced | 1944–45 |
| No. built | 1,391 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) |
| Length | 27 feet 1 inch (8.26 m) |
| Diameter | 34 inches (860 mm) |
| Wingspan | 17 feet 8 inches (5.38 m) |
| Warhead | High explosive |
| Warhead weight | 2,000 pounds (910 kg) |
| Engine | Ford PJ31 pulsejet 660 lbf (2.9 kN) |
Operational range | 150 miles (240 km) |
| Maximum speed | 425 miles per hour (684 km/h) |
Guidance system | Radio command |
| Accuracy | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) at 100 miles (160 km) |
The Republic-Ford JB-2, also known as the Thunderbug, KGW and LTV-N-2 Loon, was an American copy of the German V-1 flying bomb. Developed in 1944, and planned to be used in the Allied invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall), the JB-2 was never used in combat. It was the most successful of the United States Army Air Forces Jet Bomb (JB) projects (JB-1 through JB-10) during World War II. Postwar, the JB-2 played a significant role in the development of more advanced surface-to-surface tactical missile systems such as the MGM-1 Matador and later MGM-13 Mace.