The project that led to the development of Pelican was initiated by the National Defense Research Committee in 1942.

Two main guided-bomb programs were established for use by the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ordnance; one led to the active radar-guided Bat, which saw operational service near the end of the war, while the other was for a bomb controlled by a semi-active radar seeker,[1] which was designated Bomb Mark 55 and named Pelican.

[2] While Pelican required its launching aircraft to continue illuminating its target with its onboard radar following launch, compared to the Bat which carried its own radar set, Pelican could be released at a greater range.

[4] However the weight of the Pelican meant that the range of the PV-1 was inadequate for service in the Pacific Theatre, and the number of Venturas that could be converted was limited by operational needs;[2] as a result, despite successful tests, including one on 9 September 1944 that saw two of four Pelicans launched hit the target hulk SS James Longstreet,[5] the program was cancelled on 18 September 1944 by Admiral Ernest King.

[5][6] The resources devoted to the project were redirected to accelerated development of its successor, the U.S. Navy-deployed Bat.