13. The first successful test of the Kettering Bug occurred in October, 1918
On October 4, 1918, the Bug flew an extended distance for the first time, though not in the direction intended, nor at the preset altitude. After launch, the aircraft circled McCook Field several times before heading off to the northeast. It eventually crashed in a farmer’s field near Xenia, Ohio. Army officers, including Hap Arnold, heard reports of the crash and traveled by automobile to the site. They immediately quelled rumors of a pilotless airplane, with Arnold claiming to have parachuted from the stricken craft to a local newspaper reporter. At the time, the United States Army possessed no parachutes, though that information was not available to the reporter. The Bug was deliberately burned where it lay in the field, though the guidance system was recovered.
Despite the guidance failures, the Bug had otherwise performed as designed. One of the features of the Bug was how it measured the distance it traveled. A counter was designed to number the revolutions of the DePalma engine. Before launch, technicians computed the distance to be traveled, as well as wind direction and speed. The correct number of revolutions at a preset speed to cover the distance was calculated. In flight, when the counter reached the set number of revolutions it engaged a cam, which cut off fuel to the engine, and also operated a device to detach the wings. Without power or the means to glide, the Bug plummeted to the ground.