Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg

The Fieseler Fi 103R, code-named Reichenberg, was a German manned version of the V-1 flying bomb (more correctly known as the Fieseler Fi 103). It was developed towards the end of the Second World War and was intended to be used as a human-guided bomb in suicidal attacks against the advancing Allies.

The Fi 103R started development in 1944 at a time when Germany was anticipating a major naval landing by the Allies in western Europe. It was believed that a disposable aircraft armed with of explosives would potentially inflict heavy damage on important targets such as enemy shipping. However, these attacks would have very likely involved the death of the pilot, who was expected to exit the aircraft and parachute away mere moments before the aircraft's impact. These pilots were reportedly to be volunteers and aware of the risk to their own lives. The "Leonidas Squadron", V. Gruppe of the Luftwaffe's Kampfgeschwader 200, was established in early 1944 to conduct these attacks.

Initially, the development of a manned Fi 103 had been considered but passed over for the rival Messerschmitt Me 328 project. However, this aircraft had fundamental difficulties with its pulsejet propulsion, which led to officials opting to switch focus to the Fi 103R's development. Pilots were trained using gliders, including specially-adapted ones capable of high-speed diving. It was intended that their training would then continue with the R-III, a twin-seat powered model of the Fi 103R. In September 1944, the maiden flight of the Fi 103R occurred, which resulted in a crash; a second aircraft flown on the next day also crashed. One month later, development was shelved at the direct order of Hitler, who had been encouraged by Albert Speer and Werner Baumbach not to pursue suicide attacks.

History

Background

thumb|Fieseler Fi 103R (with cockpit, in camouflage paint), to the right of a standard [[V-1 flying bomb (Fieseler Fi 103), at the Swiss Military Museum]]

During the latter part of the Second World War, it was becoming increasingly clear that Germany was on the defensive and that increasingly drastic measures would be needed just to maintain the status quo against the Allies. In February 1944, Adolf Hitler was initially dismissive of the need to resort to tactics such as suicide attacks, as was advocated by figures such as Otto Skorzeny, Hanna Reitsch, and Hajo Herrmann, but he did authorise the formation of a squadron to prepare for such missions. Accordingly, the Leonidas Squadron, a part of Kampfgeschwader 200, was established to be this suicide squadron. Volunteers for this squadron were required to sign a declaration which said, "I hereby voluntarily apply to be enrolled in the suicide group as part of a human glider-bomb. I fully understand that employment in this capacity will entail my own death."

The concept called for an aircraft that would be armed with a single explosive device that would detonate upon impact with the target, which was typically envisioned to be Allied shipping. Officials opted to pass over the Fi 103 in favour of the Me 328. Being largely composed of wood and conceived of as potentially suitable for using multiple means of propulsion, the Me 328 had been worked on since 1941.

Skorzeny played a key role in the programme's reappraisal, which included its reorientation towards the Fi 103. The project was given the codename "Reichenberg" after the capital of the former Czechoslovak territory "Reichsgau Sudetenland" (present-day Liberec), while the aircraft themselves were referred to as "Reichenberg-Geräte" (Reichenberg apparatus). It has been claimed that one reason for the switch towards the Fi 103R was its ability to offer the pilot a slim chance of survival.

DFS development

thumb|right|The forward support pylon for the Reichenberg crewed V-1 resembles a broad-chord version of the [[Republic-Ford JB-2|American Loons similar component]]

In the summer of 1944, the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight) at Ainring took on the task of developing a crewed version of the Fi 103, an example was made ready for testing within days and a production line was established at Dannenberg. The wings were fitted with hardened edges that would cut the cables of barrage balloons. It was estimated that the chances of a pilot surviving such a bailout were less than 1% due to the proximity of the pulsejet's intake to the cockpit.

Operational history

Training

Trainees were initially prepared using ordinary gliders to get them used to handling unpowered flight; specially-adapted gliders with shortened wings would be used to provide more advanced training. Amongst other things, these adaptations enabled them to dive at speeds of up to . Once sufficient proficiency had been demonstrated, the last stage of training would be conducted using the dual-control R-II.

Training began on the R-I and R-II and, although landing them on a skid was difficult, the aircraft handled well and it was anticipated that the Leonidas Squadron would soon be using the machines. On 28 July 1944, Albert Speer wrote to Hitler, stating his opposition to the wasting of both men and machines on the Allies in France and suggested their deployment to be more worthwhile against Soviet power stations on the Eastern Front.

Test flights

thumb|right|US troops inspect Fieseler Fi 103R at Neu Tramm 1945

During September 1944, the first real flight was performed at the Erprobungsstelle Rechlin, the Reichenberg being dropped from a Heinkel He 111.

thumb|Fieseler Fi 103R exposed in Antwerp in 1945

Seeking to avoid further accidents while also hoping to uncover the source of these difficulties, further test flights were carried out by Heinz Kensche and Hanna Reitsch, both of whom were particularly accomplished test pilots. It was concluded that the Fi 103R had a relatively high stall speed and that pilots, unaware of this, had been attempting to land at speeds that were too slow for the aircraft to maintain stable flight. By this point, the Allies had consolidated their position in France and thus the value of attacking potential invasion fleets was no longer considered to be as pressing as dealing with land warfare.

Variants

There were five variants: By October 1944 about 175 R-IVs were ready for action.

R-I – The basic single-seat unpowered glider.
R-II – Unpowered glider; had a second cockpit fitted where the warhead would normally be.
R-III – A pulsejet-powered two-seater.
R-IV – The standard-powered operational model.
R-V – Powered trainer for the Heinkel He 162 (shorter nose).

Aircraft on display

Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, Everett, Washington
Canadian War Museum (collected by Farley Mowat, under restoration 2009).
Lashenden Air Warfare Museum, Headcorn, Kent, (restored N° 85)
La Coupole, Saint-Omer, France., (restored N° 126)
Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full, Full-Reuenthal, Switzerland, (restored N° 27)
Stinson Air Field, San Antonio, Texas, United States (replica).
National Military Museum (Soesterberg) Netherlands (restored N° 24)
Muzeum Molke, Ludwikowice Kłodzkie, Poland (replica)

Specifications (Fi 103R-IV)

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

Reichenberg-Gerät, die bemannte Fi 103 (in German)