V-1 Flying Bomb "Buzz Bomb"
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. While the V-2 had all the thrills and technology behind its design, the V-1 was simple in comparison. Its low cost was due to a simple airframe of thin steel skin with a proven pulse jet engine. Probably the most complicated aspect of the missile was the launching mechanism. A catapult would accelerate the flying bomb to 230 miles per hour over a 150-foot track.
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 (see Figure 2). 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.2 (See Appendix A for a detailed description of the V-1 variants)
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. The following items are peculiarities of the V-1 and deserve further discussion.
Pulse jet engine : The easily identifiable characteristic both visually and audibly about the V-1 is the pulse jet engine. The engine provided the thrust for the bomb and propelled it to the target. Its outward appearance strongly resembled a horizontal stovepipe. Air flowed through a series of vanes at the engine inlet. In the engine, the air mixed with aviation fuel and ignited. The pressure of the corresponding ignition forced the vanes shut at the inlet and forced the gases out the end of the engine. The inertia of the expulsion of gases pushed the V-1 forward. A corresponding negative pressure internal to the engine caused by the exiting gases resulted in the opening of the vanes. This cycle occurred 8 approximately 500 times a minute. The cycling resulted in the characteristic “buzz” that gave the weapon its nickname.3
Navigation. The V-1 navigated to the targets simply. The missile maintained launch heading initiated by the launch ramp. There are no planned turn-points throughout flight. Corrections to flight path occurred if the bomb encountered side winds in flight. The most clever navigation aid was the air log. Basically, the air log was a propeller on the nose of the bomb. The air log counted the number of revolutions of the propeller during flight. Considering given atmospheric conditions (last update prior to launch), the crew calculated the number of propeller revolutions commensurate to range in miles. After attaining the number of revolutions, the system initiated bomb pitch-over.4 Launch system. The launch mechanism was the most complicated portion of the total weapon system. The launch system consisted of the ramp (looked like a ski jump) and the catapult system. The launch crew assembled the ramp on a concrete base pointed to the target 150 miles away. The catapult was a steam powered piston that accelerated the bomb to 15 g’s resulting in initial flight velocity. This system was similar to the system currently used to launch aircraft off Navy carriers. In summary, the Germans did not coordinate the development of the strategic weapons during World War II. Seeing the long range rocket as a technological extension of artillery, the Ordnance Branch directed the development of the V-2.
Launch Sites: The range of each of the specific weapons determined the location of the launch sites. Initially, the V-1’s range was approximately 150 miles. The location of their launch sites and corresponding ski ramps were along the French coast between Caen and Pas de Calais. These sites, originally, were permanent structures made of concrete attached to the facilities storing the bombs. Unfortunately, the structures were easy to identify 11 necessitating attack by the Allies. The Germans then adopted less conspicuous launch sites. The launch sites consisted of steel ramps constructed on a concrete base surrounded by trees. As the Allies marched across France following the invasion, the advance forced the Germans to abandon the V-1 launch sites. Aircraft were used as launch platforms for a period of time. The Germans constructed additional sites in Holland and Germany to continue attacks
About the V-1 at the The Pima Air Museum: The Museum's V-1 Buzz Bomb was Found in Pais De Calais In France. After being contracted by Frank Grant to re-build what was left of the Fiesler Fi-103 V1, Aero Structural Inc. picked it up at his Military Studies Museum in Ontario, Canada .
Aftera21 stripping it down and removing internal parts ie. Nitrogen tanks, fuel system parts etc. Aero Structural Inc. sand blasted the remaining parts to remove old paint, rust and damaged sections.
The Lower Leading edge of the Pulse jet cowling was rusted away as well as the aft fuselage section and so we fabricated new parts with steel and welded them in.
then found a text book titled 'V Missiles of the Third Reich' which contained blueprints of the original V1 from which we were able to fabricate new Wings, Empennage, (including Elevators and Rudder) and nose skins. The original nose tip was reworked and re-installed.
These new parts were fabricated from Aluminum as the original was all steel.
Wing and Elevator tips were formed from wood.
The original front wing spar was made from three inch dia. Steel tube which had been cut off at the fuselage, presumably for transportation purposes, so we used 3" dia. aluminum tubing for the new spar.
The new Wings were made to be easily removable, again for transportation purposes. Once the V1 was fully re-assembled it was painted in a colour scheme found from old photographs.
At this time Frank Grant had contracted a local Company to manufacture a four wheeled transportation trailer which had the facility to hold the removed Wings on either side off the fuselage for ease of transportation. The trailer was built to resemble an original launch ramp and the V1 still sits on that trailer today in the Pima Air and Space Museum.
On completion of the project in 1999 the V-1 loaded the V1 onto the Trailer from Aero Structural Inc and Frank Grant towed it to his Museum in Limehouse, ON. The V-1 was then Sold to the Pima Air and Space Museum.
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