Originally it was given the code name `Flakzielgerat 76' (Flak target equipment) and `Kirschkern' (Cherry Stone) it was later referred to as the vengeance weapon 1 , or V1
The whole idea was to produce a weapon that used non- strategic materials such as wood and mild steel. By 1942, when the design was finalised, Fieseler was in charge of the overall project.
The length was 27 feet and carried 1,800Ib high explosive warhead
The buzzing sound was a result of the vanes on the grid valve opening and closed at frequencies of around 50 cycles/ second. A ramp launch was required, or it could be launched from an aircraft, usually a Heinkel 111.
Also considered was a Kamikazi type V1, shown below. Only 6 out of 150 produced survive today including this one in France at La Couple with another at Lashenden museum,Maidstone in Kent
Hitler thought that he would get lots of volunteers, but only a few came forward so the scheme was dropped
Flight tests started in 1941 at Peenemunde- West where two flight ramps had been built
The first successful launch took place on 24 December 1942 with a V1 flying 130 miles along the Baltic coastline from Peenemunde.
A new organisation, known as Flakregiment 155(w) was set up and totalled 3,500 men. Launch teams were set up so in theory 64 V1's could be launched simultaneously
Also in 1943 40 Heinkel 111 bombers were re-equipped to carry the V1
It was expected that by 15 February 1944 1,400 V1s would be available for the offensive against the UK. But Allied bombing intervened with the Fieseler works at Kassel targeted and then Peenmunde so the date was put back
So Hitler decided that all further works would take place underground at Mittelwerke, near Nordhausen in the Hartz mountains.
It was hoped that by March 1944 that 1,000 V1s would be available. In fact because of the bomb proof atmosphere the production increased dramatically with almost 12,000 missile ready for use and around 8,000 more per month
The total production for 1944 was in fact 26,000. By 13 June 1944 the first V1 was launched against London, at its peak over 100 V1 were launched again SE England and 9, 521 until the sites were over run by the Allies.
Targets as far north as Sheffield and Manchester received hits
After this the Germany turned their attention to the port of Antwerp and other Belgium targets launching 2,448 in total with attacks only stopping a month before the end of the war.
The British used a number of planes to intercept the V1s, the most successful were the Hawker Tempest , Mosquito, Spitfire XlV & Mustang and with the Gloster Meteor was rushed into service to help but although they were fast enough their canon's were prone to jamming and only shot down 13 V1s, the most successful the Mosquito with 623 `Kills'. The V1s caused a total of 22, 892 casualties
