Fieseler Fi.103R Reichenberg

SS officer Otto Skorzeny is credited with the idea of a 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 operational manned V-1, also called the Reichenberg IV, was not intended as a suicide weapon, unlike the Japanese "Ohka", although in practice the distinction would have been narrow. 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.

FACTS AND FIGURES

© A simple bead sight supposedly aided target lineup, and dive angles marked on the side windo' provided the pilot lastminute reading before he left his mount to its fate.

© The Reichenberg IV had only basic instrumentation and could supposedly be flown after minimal training training. The cockpit had only four instruments.

© Having reached his target, the pilot was supposed to aim accurately and then bail out, somehow avoiding the sucking intake of the pulse jet behind him. There was no landing gear.

© The nose of the Fi 103R-IV was packed with 800kg of explosives.

© On operations the piloted flying bomb would have been carried and launched in pairs from modified Heinkel He 111 bombers.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1000 x 488)