F-86D_Firing.jpg

"troy" wrote in message ...

When the rocket pod came down, the horizontal stabilizer gave a slight
"pitch-up".
There are 12 rockets visible in this photo, the pod carried 24, folding fin,
"Mighty Mouse"
rockets. (2.75"?)
An interesting event about 60 years ago, when several unarmed rockets
were launched
simultaneously during a training exercise. One of the "Mighty Mouse" rockets
lost one of the
four folding fins (tailfeathers). This resulted in the rocket commencing a
giant vertical loop.
Pilot reported the rocket was coming right back at him. A couple of zigs and
jinks were
fruitless. The spent rocket was carried home, sticking out of the ship's
radome. There was
a photo circulated of that F-86D, on the ground, with the tail of the rocket
sticking out of the
radome. I'd surely like to see that picture again if anyone comes across it.
Thanks in advance!

Old Chief Lynn

My Grandfather worked on these. He said the rockets were a "fire and hope
they hit something type" weapon good for only shooting down very slow
bombers.