The V1 Flying bomb was the worlds first cruise missile. An unmanned gyro guided plane that delivered a tonne of high
explosive each time one hurtled into the ground. 2419 were to explode in London between June 1944 and March 1945, which is just 9 months. The distinctive noise of their pulse jet engine which cut out after a predetermined mileage terrorised London's population. They quickly became known as Doodle bugs.
The V1 Flying Bomb
The V1 was capable of killing large numbers of people at one go, inflicting terrible injuries and causing huge material damage to
buildings and homes. The V1 caused lots of chaos and blast damage over a wide area. It exploded on the surface, and a huge blast wave
rippled out from the epicentre. As it did so it left a huge vacuum, which caused a second rush of air as the vacuum was filled.
This caused a devastating pushing and pulling effect.
At the impact site houses or buildings were totally demolished and destroyed. In the inner London suburbs where terrace houses were
packed together, sometimes up to 20 houses would totally collapse, just at one hit.Brick walls were pulverised into small fragments.
Further out from the epicentre walls, roofs and window frames were ripped out exposing the contents and innards of the house. Further out still, all the windows were blown out and roofing slates blown off. Every time a Doodlebug landed hundreds of houses were damaged. Ranging from total demolition to minor damage. This was a freezing, drenched summer and repairs would take several months. Londoners were de-housed in their tens of thousands or shivered in cold, damp and roofless houses. The blast area of a V1 extended across a radius of 400 -600 yards in each direction.
Anyone unlucky enough to be close to the impact site would be blown apart or suffer crush injuries from falling masonry. Others would be trapped below collapsed buildings and have to be dug out. Further away from the impact site awful injuries were inflicted by shards of flying glass.
During the course of the attacks the nature of the injuries changed somewhat. At the beginning people were caught unawares on the street and injuries from flying glass were widespread. Later on, people had understood the necessity of shelter in safe (er) areas of their home e.g. under the stairs. However, this had the effect of less flying glass injuries but more crush injuries from people being buried in the ruins of collapsed houses.
The toll of human suffering was appx. 6184 people killed by V1's and 17981 seriously injured and maimed. Tens of thousands of others received lesser injuries. Countless more would suffer the pain of bereavement or from the loss of their home and treasured possessions.
The suffering and grief endured by Londoner's during this period must never be forgotten.
The German Flying Bomb
| First successful Rocket test firing by Nazis
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| First test launch of a V1 Flying bomb
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| British intelligence identifies a Rocket on the Peenemunde secret weapon site
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| Peenemunde site bombed by RAF delaying the onset of the V1and V2 attacks
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| The Allied bombers destroy many Flying bomb sites in the Pas De Calais area. |
| This delays the start of the attacks but the Nazis build new, more portable, launch sites
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| The first salvo of Flying bombs are launched against London
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| 73 Flying bombs have hit London by this date
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| The British newspapers report that "Pilotless planes" are now raiding Britain
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| Anti Aircraft Guns in London area are ordered to stop shooting down V1's as they are falling on built up areas
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| Anti aircraft guns and Barrage balloons are now established in a line along the North Downs in Kent
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| 70-100 V1 a day are now reaching London
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| 617 Squadron bomb V1 storage depots in France
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| Churchill makes a statement about the V1 attacks in parliament
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| Immediate benefit is felt in reduced V1 launches owing to Allied bombing raid on the 4th July
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| Guns are moved from the North Downs to The coast to provide a better chance of shooting down the Flying bombs
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| Between 21:00 2nd August and 20.59 3rd August
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| 104 Flying bombs hit London The worst day since late June
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| Co-op in Lordship lane East Dulwich hit. 23 are killed
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| From about 10th August 1944
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| The Rate of V1 strikes in London is drastically reduced as the air defences become more effective
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| Flying bomb sites in France overrun by allies and V1 attacks on London tail off
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| Herbert Morrison announces that the Battle of London is over
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| Allied operation Market Garden parachutes thousands of troops into the Netherlands and the V2 attacks are stopped
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| Churchill admits Britain is under attack again
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| V2 hits Prince of Wales pub in Mckenzie Road Islington 68 killed
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| Final V2 fall in Court Road Orpington killing 1 person
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| Last V1 lands at Swanscombe |
Additional Reading –
Sources –
- Daily Mail
- Reuters
- sputniknews.com
Author – Jake Meilak
Related Questions
What was the V1 flying bomb?
The V1 flying bomb was the world's first cruise missile: an unmanned, gyro-guided aircraft that carried about one tonne of high explosive. Germany launched thousands at England late in the Second World War, and 2,419 of them exploded in London between June 1944 and March 1945.
Why was the V1 nicknamed the "Doodlebug"?
Londoners called the V1 the "Doodlebug" because of the distinctive buzzing note of its pulse-jet engine. When the engine cut out after a preset distance, people knew the bomb was about to dive and explode, making the sudden silence terrifying.
How many V1 flying bombs hit London?
According to wartime figures, 2,419 V1 flying bombs exploded in London between June 1944 and March 1945, a span of just nine months. They caused enormous blast damage, destroying or damaging hundreds of houses with each hit.
How did the V1 flying bomb work?
The V1 was powered by a simple pulse-jet engine and steered by a gyroscopic autopilot that held a set course. An onboard counter measured distance flown; after a predetermined mileage the engine cut out and the bomb dived to the ground, detonating on impact. Its pulse-jet was an early relative of the modern jet engine.
How powerful was a V1 explosion?
Each V1 carried roughly one tonne of high explosive and detonated on the surface, sending a blast wave across a radius of about 400 to 600 yards. Close to the impact point buildings were demolished; further out, roofs, walls and windows were torn away.
When was the V1 used during World War II?
Germany used the V1 against England mainly from June 1944 to March 1945, in the closing year of the Second World War. It was one of the war's "vengeance weapons" and an early milestone in the long story of military aviation history.
The article about the V1 rocket is written as a pure propaganda piece, not a factual report. It is distressing that nearly 80 years after the fact, this type of trash regularly originates in the feverish minds of German haters in the anglo-american world. You deliberately forget that it was Churchill who initiated the bombing of civilian targets as a declared war aim. It was the british government which rejected Hitler´s numerous peace proposals, proposals which were more than generous. and it was Churchill who used scientific plans to annihilate the german civilian population. By ignoring all historical facts and falsifying quasi every event which led to this terrible conflict, you brand yourselves liars, scoundrels and disgusting filth.
On the contrary, this is a highly factual report about the V-1; it’s not about any of those other topics you mentioned.
It’s true that the bombing of civilians became part of the war strategy of all sides. The British and Americans debated its morality at the time. Today most free societies have abandoned the targeting of civilians, but it continues unabated among totalitarian states.
After Czechoslovakia and the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, the rest of the world had already had ample evidence of the sincerity of Hitler’s “peace proposals.” There was no reason to entertain any more of that brand of fiction.
The Nazis were experts at scientifically annihilating populations. It wasn’t just a war strategy, it was the primary reason for their existence.