What is a Fi 103R?

The Fieseler Fi 103R, code-named Reichenberg, was a late- World War II German crewed version of the V-1 flying bomb (more correctly known as the Fieseler Fi 103) produced for attacks in which the pilot was likely to be killed (as actually intended, for use of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service ‘s Ohka…

Who was the test pilot for the Fi 103?

Otto Skorzeny, who had been investigating the possibility of using crewed torpedoes against Allied shipping, was briefed by Hitler to revive the project and he contacted test pilot Hanna Reitsch. The Fi 103 was reappraised and was adopted for the project as it seemed to offer the pilot a slim chance of surviving.

Why was the F-103 called the V1?

Because the Fi 103 could thus “avenge” Allied bombing raids on Germany, the German Propaganda Ministry called the Fi 103 Vergeltungswaffe Eins (“Vengeance Weapon 1”), or “V1” for short. V1 is the name by which it is best remembered.

When was the first crewed Fi 103 made?

In the summer of 1944 the DFS (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.

What happened to the Reichenberg R-III?

On 5 November 1944 during the second test flight of the R-III, a wing fell off due to vibrations and Heinz Kensche managed to parachute to safety, albeit with some difficulty due to the cramped cockpit. When Werner Baumbach assumed command of KG 200 in October 1944, he shelved the Reichenberg in favour of the Mistel project.

How was the V-1 transformed into the Reichenberg?

The V-1 was transformed into the Reichenberg by adding a small, cramped cockpit at the point of the fuselage that was immediately ahead of the pulsejet’s intake, where the standard V-1’s compressed-air cylinders were fitted. The cockpit had basic flight instruments and a plywood bucket seat.