MX-767 Banshee

[Grey Havoc]

Has anyone come across any info on this project? This is what I have from the Missile Scrapbook over in designation-systems.net:

AMC MX-767 Banshee


Between 1946 and 1950, the U.S. Air Force's Air Material Command tried to develop an unmanned variant of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress as a long-range nuclear-armed guided missile. The project was officially designated MX-767 and code-named Banshee. Flight tests of some guidance equipment in manned B-29s were conducted, but otherwise almost no information on the project is readily available. It is unclear if the B-29 drone was to be expendable (i.e. dropped as a whole on the target), or if the atom bomb was to be released and the aircraft return home. Project Banshee was run with relatively low priority, and most likely did not result in any unmanned B-29 flights. The basic concept was briefly revived in project MX-1457 Brass Ring.

The only lasting result of Project Banshee was unrelated to aeronautical or weapons technology. When a B-29 crashed on a Banshee-related test flight in 1948, killing 9 crew out of 13, the widows of three killed civilian engineers sued the government because of (suspected) negligence. However, Project Banshee and therefore the accident report were highly classified at that time. It was ruled that the USAF did not have to disclose the report to laywers, thereby denying the plaintiffs the most important means to prove their case. This was apparently the first time that the military used "national security" requirements to effectively prevent legal action against itself, and has set a precedence for similar cases thereafter.

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

There's a link that gives more info regarding the MX 767/Project Banshee:
https://en.topwar.ru/117112-iz-supe...tyrehmotornye-krylatye-rakety-dyadi-sema.html

 

[Dilandu]

There's a link that gives more info regarding the MX 767/Project Banshee:

Copied from my article, by the way)

 

[Hafidz Rahman]

Well, there are some small piece of information about MX-767 Banshee development from "The Air Force and The National Guided Missile Program 1944-1950" reports:

https://media.defense.gov/2011/Mar/21/2001330247/-1/-1/0/AFD-110321-029.pdf

 

[tsturgeon]

Has anyone come across any info on this project? This is what I have from the Missile Scrapbook over in designation-systems.net:

I have the Project Banshee mothership manual

 

[tsturgeon]

 

[tsturgeon]

Well, there are some small piece of information about MX-767 Banshee development from "The Air Force and The National Guided Missile Program 1944-1950" reports:

https://media.defense.gov/2011/Mar/21/2001330247/-1/-1/0/AFD-110321-029.pdf

I have a mothership manual.

 

[tsturgeon]

Here is some TOC info and tidbits…I am in the process of getting it scanned to proper archive level…shoot me a question about what you want to know or connect with

 

[tsturgeon]

Project Banshee – Confirmed Test Equipment and Core System Components


(As documented in AN/APN-56 technical materials)











1. Test Equipment Used on Banshee

• 1.1 Voltmeter – IS-189
  • Hewlett-Packard 400A or equivalent
  • General AC/DC voltage measurement
• 
  
• 1.2 Voltmeter – IS-185
  • Simpson Analyzer or equivalent
  • 0–150 volts AC (iron vane, RMS)
• 
  
• 1.3 Oscilloscope – TS-34/AP
  • Displays waveforms up to 1 MHz
  • Used for analyzing timing chain and telemetry
• 
  
• 1.4 Signal Generator – (not Army-Navy listed)
  • HP Audio Oscillator or equivalent
  • Injects test tones and control signals
• 
  
• 1.5 Test Set – TS-215/AP
  • Roller Smith Analyzer
  • Analyzes phase/timing delay circuits
• 
  
• 1.6 Calibrator – TS-(XA-119)/APN-56
  • Delay channel calibrator
  • Custom, contractor-supplied unit
• 
  
• 1.7 Power Meter – TS-305/AP
  • Measures transmitter output from AN/CPN-2

2. Core System Components of the Marriage Computer

• 2.1 Time Delay Computer – CP-(XA-19)/APN-56
• 2.2 Servo Amplifier – CP-(XA-19)/APN-56
• 2.3 Phase Shifter – CP-(XA-19)/APN-56
• 2.4 Cabinet – C-(XA-153)/APN-56
• 2.5 Indicator (X-axis) – ID-(XA-39)/APN-56
• 2.6 Computer – CP-(XA-20)/APA-44
• 2.7 Switching Panel – C-(XA-152)/APN-56
• 2.8 Power Supply – multiple voltages (150V, 250V, 300V)
• 2.9 Delay Units – C-(XA-152)/APN-56
• 2.10 Monitor – ID-(XA-43)/APN-56
• 2.11 Transmitter – T-(XA-55)/APN-56
• 2.12 Control Unit – C-(XA-152)/APN-56
• 2.13 Mileage Unit – CP-(XA-20)/APA-44