The April 1946 issue of the Intelligence Bulletin included a lengthy report on German WWII rockets and guided missiles. The article covered the Bachem Ba 349 "Natter" (Adder) rocket-powered fighter with the following illustrations and captions.   At first complacent in the face of the strategic bombing threat, the Germans in 1943 became fearful, then frantic. They were willing to try out any possibly effective counterweapon. One of these trial weapons was the piloted rocket called the "Natter," a test model of which is shown here.       A cross-section of the "Natter" illustrates its component parts. The rocket fuel is a liquid, as in the V–2 type of rocket. The chute was used to prevent wrecking the main motor, which, like the pilot, was jettisoned.     The "Natter" was launched from a frame in the manner of a projectile from a gun. The pilot assumed control after the missile was airborne. The "Natter" represented a cross between a fighter and a suicide-type aircraft.       Launching of the "Natter" was impressive. The blast of its rocket gives an idea of the power used in attaining a climbing speed of 435 miles per hour—about 38,000 feet a minute. This speed was attained climbing almost straight up. Source: "Guided Missiles—The Weapon of the Future," Intelligence Bulletin, April 1946, Military Intelligence Division, War Department, Washington, D.C.

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