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:

Length	3.40 m (11 ft 2 in)
Wingspan	3.71 m (12 ft 2 in)
Weight	?
Speed	400 km/h (250 mph)
Endurance	40 min
Propulsion	McDonnell 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

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Last Updated: 26 March 2003