I've never heard or read the name "Drake", but it's easy to remember. I'll let you know if I come across it one day.
I suspect, and at this point, only have a suspicion, that it is some variant of one of the Navy's CTV, LTV, or RTV programs. That is, it is a Control, Launch, or Rocket Test Vehicle. There are numerous variations of this sort of rocket, and most are not well documented. They were relatively cheap, expendable designs used to develop various systems for what because operational missiles.
The middle photo has "Radiophone Co." painted on the missile. Anything on that?
No clue on that nor the wingtip pod things.
I suspect they may be radar reflectors, to increase the missile signature for easier tracking. Or visual tracking aids: each seems to have individual pattern of black and white parts:
My guess is that given that the launcher is so close to the ocean that they are empty and used as floats to allow recovery of the booster section for re-use to keep launching costs down. The way the back end of them looks, they might also contain a parachute to assist in keeping the booster intact on release.
Hm, there is definitedly some cable going on from the rear part of each pod along the fin into missile. And the rear part of the pod looks like clamshell hatch bolted together.
It's not "Radiophone", it's "Radioplane".
Radioplane built a number of test vehicles for engines and stuff in this timeframe.
Ah, understood. Yes, it's quite probable that this rocket is Radioplane's test or calibration vechicle. Albeit I suspect that they re-used existing experimental rocket from some other project (the general shape looks... too simple)
Likely. I think this rocket / missile is two-stage too with the booster separation just behind the forward set of fins. I also like they're using copious quantities of duct tape...
What's the source of the 2nd and 3rd photo, with the pods on the booster fins?
Pt. Mugu archive
