The V-1 Rocket In Analysis, Propaganda, Photographs, Illustrations & Historic Film

OVERVIEW


The Luftwaffe developed the V-1 Flying bomb, or “Buzz” bomb. After the disastrous performance by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, the army rocket program gained in priority. The Luftwaffe was jealous of the extra attention given to the Ordnance branch. They felt that the rocket should be a Luftwaffe program anyway. In order to regain some respect, the service developed an inexpensive alternative in the long range weapon race.


The V-1 looked like a small airplane with no cockpit. Above and to the rear of the missile was the externally mounted, stovepipe engine. The total length was just over 25 feet with a wing span of 17.5 feet. The normal version of the “buzz” bomb weighed almost 5,000 pounds fully fueled with a warhead of almost one ton. The range of this version of the V-1 was just short of 150 miles.


During June 1944, the Germans launched the first V-1 flying bomb against London.


The British had intelligence during the previous year that the Germans were developing new weapons. They, in concert with the Americans, had conducted offensive operations against launch sites, production facilities, and transportation networks to lesson the threat. Additionally, after the attacks began, they developed a defensive scheme to defend England. Both offensive and defensive countermeasures were successful in reducing the volume of the attacks.


The launch preparation for the V-1 was very simple. The launch crew would load the V-1 on the launch ramp. The crew would then load aviation fuel into the fuel tanks. Next, the crew would attach the wings to the fuselage (detached wings facilitated transportation and storage). The crew would align the gyroscope to the ramp. The Germans constructed the ramp in the direction of the target. On receipt of final weather conditions, the crew would set the air log counter for the proper range to the target. Finally, the crew would attach the catapult to the missile for launch.


If the missile managed to successfully attain flight, it would proceed following the ramp heading. The flying bomb would normally fly below 3,000 feet at a maximum speed of 400 miles per hour. Once the bomb attained the preset range, the control surfaces would deflect to the maximum effect, tipping the missile toward earth. This maneuver normally resulted in choking the engine causing it to quit. The missile would impact the earth and detonate the warhead. Total flight time was a little over a half an hour.


CONTENTS by CHAPTER


1. SELECTED TEXTS - COMPARING THE V-1 TO THE V-2 


2. V-1 ROCKET PHOTOGRAPHS


a. V-1 ROCKET: MANUFACTURING AND DISPLAY


b. V-1 ROCKET: FIRING AND AFTERMATH


c. V-1 ROCKET: SCHEMATICS, DIAGRAMS AND PARTS ILLUSTRATIONS


d. V-1 ROCKET: PROPAGANDA


3. V-1 ROCKET FILMS


a. FZG 76 - V-1 Ground Crew German Training Film (1944) 


b. [V-1 Flying] Robot Bombs: Flight And Damage (Silent)


c. FLYING BOMB DEFEATED [ETC.] (Newsreel; 1944)