Even though development of the Lark began during World War II, it was not finished in time to assist U.S. troops. Development picked up again during 1946-1950, and it was used mainly for testing at sea.
The real soul of the Lark was in its “brain”: a set of guidance controls (shown on the cutaway), which made this 1,200 pound missile the “first U.S. surface-to-air missile ever to intercept a moving air target,” according to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
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