Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones
KDH
Copyright © 2003 Andreas Parsch

McDonnell TD2D/KDD/KDH Katydid

In 1942, McDonnell developed the Katydid jet-powered target drone under contract from the U.S. Navy. The prototypes were designated XTD2D-1, and were followed by an unknown quantity of TD2D-1 production drones.

Photo: Boeing
TD2D-1 (KDH-1)


The TD2D-1 was powered by a McDonnell 8" pulsejet, and could be either ground-launched by catapult or air-launched from under-wing racks on PBY Catalina aircraft. The Katydid was gyro-stabilized, could be controlled by radio commands and was recovered by parachute.

In 1946, the XTD2D-1 and TD2D-1 were redesignated as XKDD-1 and KDD-1, respectively. Later in 1946, the Navy changed McDonnell's manufacturer code letter from "D" to "H", and the KDD-1 was redesignated again as KDH-1.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for KDH-1:

Length3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)
Wingspan3.71 m (12 ft 2 in)
Weight?
Speed400 km/h (250 mph)
Endurance40 min
PropulsionMcDonnell pulsejet

Main Sources

[1] Frederick I. Ordway III, Ronald C. Wakeford: "International Missile and Spacecraft Guide", McGraw-Hill, 1960
[2] Norman J. Bowman: "The Handbook of Rockets and Guided Missiles", Perastadion Press, 1963


Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1





Last Updated: 26 March 2003