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The V-1 Buzzbomb is a German missile and the first guided bomb in the world.


V1 Buzzbomb

The V-1 was developed by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) during WWII and was used from June 1944 and March 1945, being used to attack targets in Southeast England and Belgium, mainly the cities of London and Antwerp. The first V-1 bomb hit London on June 13, 1944. The V -1s were launched from sites along the Channel (Pas-de-Calais) And the coast of the Netherlands until they were subjugated by the Allied forces. However, once the allies captured the points where the launchers were concentrated, the Germans resorted to aircraft of the Luftwaffe, having adapted to V -1 to be launched from Heinkel He 111/ H -22. The bombers dropped a total of 1.176 V-1 flying bombs this way. The V-1 later received help from the more sophisticated V-2 rocket.

The British gave her the nickname buzzer bomb or buzz bomb, because of the sound it produced. It was easily identifiable, and people knew that there was a V-1 coming. It's engine was shut down after it traveled a predetermined distance.

The pump has obtained an average success . How was flying straight and steady speed, it was relatively easy to butcher them with guns. Moreover, so some V-1 appeared in screen of the British radar, RAF sent their interceptors Gloster Meteors to knock them down. When all else failed, the pilots used the wings of its planes to divert the missile and make him fall in a safe place. It was these failures that forced the Germans to use the V-2 Rocket.

Despite this, the United States later developed their own version, the JB-2 Loon.


  • Model: Fi 103 or FZG -76
  • Weight: 2150 kg
  • Length: 7.9 m
  • Wingspan: 5.37 m
  • Height: 1.42 m
  • Body diameter: 83.8 cm
  • Engine: Argus AS14 jet pulse, 300 kg (660 lb) of thrust
  • Speed: 656 km/h (maximum operating), 800 km (diving final).
  • Ceiling: 3050 m (service maximum) 100-1000 (operational, normal)
  • Range: 240 km (launched from land) or 330 km (air-dropped, to 2,500 m). Autonomy of two and a half ago
  • Weight ratio explosive charge: 38.6%
  • Bursting charge: 830 kg Amatol

See also
