[Illustration: 63. Illustration from World War II intelligence
report.]
GERMAN PILOTLESS AIRCRAFT
Warhead: approx. 1000 kg.
Fuel filler cap
Lifting lug
Fuel tank. (Capacity 130 galls. petrol)
Wirebound spherical compressed air bottles
Grill incorporation shutters & petrol injection jets
Impulse duct engine
Light alloy nose fairing probably containing compass
Launching rail
Steel tubular main spar passing through fuel tank
Pressed steel wing ribs
Sheet steel wing covering
Automatic pilot: 3 airdriven gyros: height & range setting controls
Pneumatic servo mechanism operating rudder & elevators
The German-developed V-1 was an automatically controlled pilotless
aircraft for use against Allied cities during World War II.
The missile was launched from ground ramps. Once in the air, automatic
controls on board the craft took over. The V-1 climbed to a
predetermined altitude, followed a compass course, and dove to the
ground after a preset distance had been covered.
This mid-wing monoplane was powered by a unique pulsejet engine above
the rear portion of the fuselage.
The relatively low speed of the missile made it easy prey for
antiaircraft guns or fighters.
The V-1 on exhibit is from the U.S. Air Force, Park Ridge Depot.