Buzz bomb

Buzz Bomb is a term often used to refer to the V-1 flying bomb, a type of cruise missile developed by Nazi Germany during World War II. The V-1 was the first of the so-called "Vengeance weapons" (V-weapons or Vergeltungswaffen) series designed for terror bombing of London.

Design and Development

The V-1 was developed at Peenemünde Army Research Center by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Designed by Robert Lusser and Fritz Gosslau, the V-1 was guided by an autopilot system and powered by a pulse-jet engine, the Argus As 014.

Operational History

The first V-1 was launched at London on 13 June 1944, one week after (and prompted by) the successful Allied landing in Europe. At its peak, more than one hundred V-1s a day were fired at southeast England, 9,521 in total, decreasing in number as sites were overrun until October 1944, when the last V-1 site in range of Britain was overrun by Allied forces.

Impact

The V-1 was fired from "ski" launch sites along the French (Pas-de-Calais) and Dutch coasts until the sites were overrun by Allied forces. The destruction caused by the V-1 led to significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure, making it a significant factor in the war effort.

See Also

• V-2 rocket
• V-3 cannon
• Operation Crossbow
• Operation Overlord

References

• V-1 Flying Bomb Specifications
• V-1 Flying Bomb Operational History
• V-1 Flying Bomb Impact