Hitler's V1 kamikaze style doodlebug

[Still Waters]

This is the secret weapon which Hitler hoped would help destroy London during World War II.

Although 5,000 V1 rockets were launched by the Germans from France and Holland to bomb London, this is a rare Kamikaze-style version.

Because the aim of the rockets was so random - the bombs dropped when they ran out of fuel - 150 of them were modified with a small cockpit so they could be flown accurately into targets.

http://www.dailymail...olunteered.html

[Mr.United_Nations]

Didn't the Japanese have something like this?

[Hasina]

Didn't the Japanese have something like this?

They called them 'airplanes'.

[PersonFromPorlock]

Didn't the Japanese have something like this?

The Japanese called their suicide bomb the 'Ohka' (Cherry Blossom) https://en.wikipedia...osuka_MXY7_Ohka: Allied propaganda turned that into 'Baka' (fool or idiot).

Interestingly, one of the 'brave men' who test flew the piloted V1 was Hanna Reitsch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_Reitsch

Edited January 11, 2013 by PersonFromPorlock

[coolguy]

Yes the Japanese had there version also

[Ealdwita]

SS officer Otto Skorzeny, the famous Special Forces paratrooper is credited with the idea of the piloted version of the V-1 flying bomb able to make precision attacks, and design began before the first unguided V-1s fell on London in June 1944. To study why many test V-1s crashed soon after launch an earlier piloted version was tested. Two pilots were injured before famed woman test pilot Hanna Reitsch confirmed that the engine noise was vibrating the airframe off course.

The 100 volunteers who signed up to fly the bombs were known unofficially as 'Selbstopfermaenner' or 'Self-sacrifice Men'. Although about 70 Reichenberg IVs were built for use by special unit KG 200, none were actually used operationally and development stopped in October 1944.

(My files)

The Lashenden Air Warfare Museum is only a few miles from me, but to my shame I have to admit I've never visited it. (Must get round to it this year).

Edited January 14, 2013 by ealdwita