Successful testing of this combination led to the release of requirements to the aerospace industry for an air-to-surface missile on 15 July 1945.

Northrop Corporation, Bell, and Republic Aviation were invited by the USAAF to submit proposals for Mastiff.

Bell studied the feasibility of developing a subsonic "pilot-less" bomber carrying a substantial payload over a distance of 300 miles (480 km).

[5][6] After 18 months of study, Bell concluded that rocket propulsion was not capable of providing the performance needed to boost the missile the AAF wanted to a range of 300 miles.

[5] The Rascal caught the attention of the journal Aviation Week in 1951 when it report “First practical application of the Bell X-1 supersonic research test plans as a military aircraft may be in an air-to-ground guided missile .

[8]: 85  It was the intent of the Air Material Command that the Shrike could provide the USAF with a tactical weapon following the test program.

[13] Rascal, was required to carry a 5,000 pound warhead a distance of 150 nautical miles at a speed of Mach 3.0 by July 1955.

[3]: 17 The RASCAL design used the X-9's canard aerodynamic configuration and a rocket engine derived from the X-9's rocket-propulsion system.

[15] The RASCAL guidance system was developed jointly by Bell, Federal Communications/Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and Texas Instruments.

[1] The initial version of the control system provided an accuracy or circular error probable (CEP) of 3,000 feet (910 m).

The bomber carrying the missile was modified with an additional antenna and equipment at the bombardier's position needed to guide the RASCAL.

During the flight to the launch point, the bombardier transferred wind and navigation data periodically to the missile.

Prior to launch the bombardier tuned a video relay receiver, altitude phasing, and adjusted the terminal guidance tracking indicator.

[3]: 8  After launch, a lanyard connecting the RASCAL to the bomber was used to start the missile's rocket engine.

[16] The command guidance system did not send a directional signal and was not encrypted which made it susceptible to detection and jamming.

Using this capability the RASCAL could be equipped with nuclear, biological, chemical, blast, or incendiary warheads.

The USAF also wanted the ability to use the RASCAL as a standard gravity bomb if the missile could not be readied for launch.

[17]: 119–123  The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was responsible for developing the fuzing system for the RASCAL warhead.

The first powered RASCAL was launched from the test B-50 on 30 September 1952 at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico in the United States[1] In May 1953, 12 DB-36H "director-bombers" were ordered from Convair.

One forward bomb bay was used to hold equipment required by the RASCAL's guidance system.

[1] By June 1955, at least two missiles had been launched from the B-36 and Convair had completed manufacturing modification kits for the 12 planned aircraft.

[1] Before the end of 1952, Boeing received a contract from the USAF to modify two B-47Bs into prototype RASCAL missile carriers.

After completion of the two DB-47B prototypes, the delays in the RASCAL's development effectively placed the DB-47 modification effort on hold until March 1955.

The Strategic Air Command was concerned that externally mounting the RASCAL and the associated internal equipment needed to support the missile would seriously degrade the performance of the bomber.

[5] Finally SAC considered it unwise to commit aircraft and to start training crews before the missile's development had been completed.

The mission began the moment the carrier aircraft left the ramp and took off towards a predetermined launch point and assigned target.

The operator of the guidance system then had to interpret what vision the radar screen was providing him and decide to either monitor or correct the missiles course.

[3]: 8–9  SAC was not interested in the Rascal because of this operational restriction as well as significantly affecting the cost and usefulness of the launch airplane.

The first Hound Dog equipped SAC squadron reached initial operational capability in July 1960.

The Hound Dog offered a weapon with nearly five times the range of the RASCAL, without command guidance, and without hazardous fuels to contend with.