page_title: 6555th Aerospace Test Group
section_title: Postwar era
hierarchical_section_title: 6555th Aerospace Test Group / History / Weapons and missile development / Postwar era
caption_attribution_description: English: LARK MISSILE ON ZERO-LENGTH LAUNCHER - 1950
context_page_description: The 6555th Aerospace Test Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Eastern Space and Missile Center and stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 October 1990.
  Prior to the activation of the Air Force Space Command, the unit was responsible for the development of USAF missiles, both tactical surface-to-surface; CIM-10 Bomarc Interceptor; SM-62 Snark Intercontinental Cruise Missile; Intercontinental ballistic missile and heavy launch rockets used for military for satellite deployment. The unit played a key role in the civilian NASA Project Mercury, Project Gemini and Project Apollo manned space programs along with military Space Shuttle flights.
  The mission of the unit today is performed by the 45th Space Wing.
context_section_description: Between 1946 and 1950, the Group's predecessor units, the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group and 550th Guided Missiles Wing, tested a variety of glided bombs and tactical missiles.  They also developed QB-17 drone aircraft for use in atomic bomb testing, and later as targets for anti-aircraft missiles.  The 550th GMW also launched the first rockets from the Joint Long Range Proving Ground at Cape Canaveral, Florida in 1950.
  Republic-Ford JB-2 (1947–1949)
  The JB-2 was a U.S.-made copy of the famous German V-1 surface-to-surface, pilotless flying bomb first used against England in June 1944. Planned for use in the Invasion of Japan, the missile was never used in combat during World War II.  The 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group began a testing program with the JB-2 at White Sands, New Mexico in March 1947 and it spent several months preparing a detachment to depart for cold weather testing of the JB-2 in Alaska in November 1948.  Testing was also done at the Army Air Forces Proving Ground at Santa Rosa Island, Florida.  The JB-2 was never used operationally, however it led to the development of the first operational USAF cruise missile, the Martin B-61A Matador.
  QB-17L Flying Fortress (1946–1950)
  The BQ-17 Flying Fortresses was as unmanned aircraft that would fly near or even through mushroom clouds during postwar atomic tests.  B-17s were withdrawn from stores for conversion into drones with the addition of radio, radar, television, and other equipment.  Most of the work was performed by the San Antonio Air Depot at Kelly Field in Texas. Initially supplied by the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group, The first of these nuclear tests took place in the South Pacific under the code name "Operation Crossroads". When the USAF was established in 1947, the director aircraft became DB-17Gs, while the drones became QB-17GL.
  By January 1950, the Air Proving Ground decided this piecemeal operation ought to be consolidated, and it recommended the establishment of a separate and permanent drone squadron. Personnel from the 550th GMW 2d Guided Missiles Squadron were subsequently transferred to a new unit, the 3200th Proof Test Group in May 1950.  When the 550th GMW was reassigned to Patrick AFB in December 1950, the drone operations remained at the Eglin's Air Proving Ground Center.
  VB-6 Felix (1947–1948)
  The Felix was an air-to-surface guided bomb equipped with a heat-seeking guidance system primarily designed as an anti-ship weapon. Developed during World War II, Successful trials led to the Felix being put in production in 1945, but the Pacific War ended before it entered combat.  Testing on the weapon was conducted between 1947–1948 at Eglin Field by the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Squadron
  VB-3 Razon (1947–1948)
  The VB-3 Razon (for range and azimuth) was a standard 1,000-pound general-purpose bomb fitted with flight control surfaces. Development of the Razon began in 1942, but it did not see use during World War II.  Tested during the postwar era, by the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Squadron, at Eglin Field.
  The Razon was used by the 19th Bombardment Group B-29s during the Korean War, the first in August 1950.  The squadron dropped 489 Razons, and about one-third of those dropped did not respond to radio control. Despite these difficulties, B-29 bombardiers destroyed 15 bridges with Razon bombs.
  VB-13 Tarzon (1947–1948)
  Developed in 1946, the Tarzon was essentially a British 12,000-pound "Tall Boy" bomb fitted with a forward shroud to provide lift, with flight control surfaces in the tail. The name came from a combination of Tall Boy and Razon.  Tested during the postwar era, by the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Squadron, at Eglin Field.
  The first Tarzon attack in Korea took place in December 1950, and by the end of January, 19th Bombardment Group B-29s had cut spans out of four bridges. Tarzons remained in short supply, however, and after a B-29 was believed lost attempting to jettison one, the Air Force canceled the Tarzon in August 1951. 30 were dropped, 1 hit their targets, destroying six bridges and dam
caption: Navy Lark Missile being tested, 1950
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