1946 USAAF "Supersonic Escape Capsules"

[Orionblamblam]

A bit of a mystery. More complete yammering HERE. If anyone has any leads on explaining these, I'd love to hear 'em.

 

[Graham1973]

I've actually commented on your other blog, but I'll repeat part of it here. I agree with the commenter who suggested that they might be alternate(or failed) designs for the Fat Boy/Thin Man 'physics packages'. Comparisons with their exterior blueprints might be useful.

 

[Michel Van]

The first pod with Window look like for a camera use
The second pod like advance casing for a gun-type fission weapon,
Sadly i can't read the blueprint lettering on photos to find more clues.

Either this is drop from very high altitude from bomber (for pod Two)
Or the term Supersonic indicate early warheads for US version of V2 rocket
one for reconnaissance the target, the other for the KARBOOOM

 

[Grey Havoc]

Some sort of agent insertion system, maybe?

 

[Michel Van]

Some sort of agent insertion system, maybe?

according data in Lowther the Unwanted Blog
The first design has diameter of 38.5 inches or 98 cm
That's dam small to squeze a secret agent into it

 

[Jemiba]

...That's dam small to squeze a secret agent into it

Judging other ideas to transport just a single person, it seems quite reasonable.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1476.msg12404.html#msg12404

It's not intended as a peasure trip anyway !

 

[starviking]

Could it be a plan for an escape capsule for the Bell X-1?


It's cramped, but so was the X-1 cockpit. The question is - could it fit in the 'envelope' of the front of the X-1?