Kettering Bug
Dayton-Wright / Kettering · United States · first flew 1918 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Kettering Bug was an American expendable aerial torpedo developed in 1918, regarded as one of the world's first practical cruise missiles. Designed by Charles Kettering, it used a preset pneumatic autopilot to fly a programmed course before cutting its engine and diving onto the target.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 3.76 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 0 (unmanned) — World War I aerial torpedo / early cruise missile
- Cardboard and papier-mâché construction; entire airframe expendable
- First practical American attempt at an autonomous flying bomb
A tiny biplane with a simple rectangular fuselage, a light piston engine, and no cockpit; the minimal papier-mâché and wood construction gives it a fragile, model-aircraft appearance quite unlike any manned aircraft.
Specifications
- The Kettering Bug has a length of 3.76 m (12 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 4.57 m (15 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 190 km/h (118 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The US Army contracted Charles Kettering to develop an inexpensive flying bomb in 1917. The Bug first flew successfully in 1918 and was ordered into production, but the Armistice arrived before it could be used in combat. The concept influenced later cruise missile development, and the Bug is now recognised as a pioneering milestone in autonomous weapons.
Variants
Only the single basic configuration was produced, though minor variations in engine and construction existed across the limited production run.
Where you'll see it
Never used operationally; production was underway when the war ended in November 1918.
Related aircraft
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