V-1 Buzzbomb: A Technical Breakdown of the Vengeance Weapon

Air Zoo Docent, Kevin, takes us on a technical tour of the V-1 Flying bomb. This bomb, and early cruise missile, reigned terror upon cities across Europe during World War 2.

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[MatthewTaylor]

This man deserves an award for being able to describe the V-1 in surch detail that's actually both informative and entertaining. I feel like I could actually build one based on such detail.
Its sad that so many lives had to be lost over these killing machines.

[zedwpd]

I'm 20 years Air Force as was my dad. I have a military history minor and even taught military history to ROTC cadets at the University of Missouri. I found this information and presentation outstanding. I learned so much. About 80% of this video was new to me. Excellent job!

[ronalddesiderio]

This man is an excellent instructor. I’ve lived with ADHD my entire life. And he’s got my attention from start to finish. If. I had more teachers like him in school I might have learned something 👍🏾

[tundramanq]

Thank you, That is the most in depth technical description of the V-1 operation I have heard in my 60+ years.

[fredsasse]

A fascinating description of a complicated device that I thought (as you mentioned) was simply pointed in the desired direction, launched, and ran until it ran out of fuel. It's amazing what was done back then mechanically that today is all electronic. Everything from mechanical fire control "computers" for naval guns and artillery to the Norden bomb sights.

[jonalowe]

Excellent presentation. Best technical discussion of the technical aspects I've ever seen. Well done.

[AllanPerkins-ek]

An excellent presentation of a device far more sophisticated than I thought! Thankyou.

[Gli]

I am old enough to remember those things. We lived in a western suburb of London The newspapers reported on them and printed three views, So when I saw one I recognised what it was. I would guess it was at about 1500 feet and I was about a half mile from its course. After that, I might have seen about a half dozen. They just kept on to out of sight over the north horizon. They would keep on until the motor quit and then a few seconds after would hit the ground and explode. But there was one that came down maybe a half mile from me. I was taking a crap at the moment and this one was different. I heard it coming The engine did not quit.But suddenly the noise of the motor went up in pitch and volume. All I could do was, well just to tense and wait.
About a half mile away was Duke somebodies mansion in the middle of his biggish park, The Bomb impacted just inside the wall of the park. This was a good place, far enough from the dukes place and inside his high brick wall. There was a public road on the outside of that and outside of that the West Middlesex hospital, so it did not hurt anybody or do any damage. To this day I sometimes hear a diesel bus that remindes me of the Buzz bombs noise.

[leokimvideo]

The Germans certainly loved to use new methods to attack an enemy. Simple machine yet some very clever mechanisms built in. Very good video of this revolutionary and effective weapon.

[spaceman]

This is an excellent presentation about the V-1, the very first cruise missile.

[kevken]

As a Brit with an intense interest this is the best lecture I've ever heard on the subject. Thank you.

[Dave-dm]

During 1950s, Walter Kaaden, one of the engineers who harnessed harmonic shock waves within the pulse jet tube, went on to invent the expansion chamber exhaust which effectively super charges two stroke engines. He also used reed valves within the inlet port.

[OANNHSEA]

Excellent!!! I have never thought that V1 was so complicated!!!

[charlesharper]

Fascinating weapon. There's more to it than I expected. 👍

[richjageman]

I was taught in more than 1 class that it was set to run until it ran out of fuel and they just filled it to different amounts to get close to where they wanted it to land. Glad I saw this video and finally learned the truth.

[robzilla]

This was an outstanding presentation. Well thought out and well executed. I didn't know the weapon was as complicated as it is, but it apparently worked very well, unfortunately for many people. I've read about some of our allied fighters being able to either shoot them down, or fly alongside and then tip the wing over. Pretty dangerous stuff in both cases.

[JohnCompton]

Wonderful, clear, concise, and objective explanation of a very impressive piece of kit. Super impressive set of pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical systems on the V-1. Particularly because of the era in which they were designed and produced. I'll wager a lot of that technology found its way into many of the Allies weapon systems as well. Thanks so much for sharing Kevin.

[theblade]

I am retired from teaching high school physics. I always told my students if you understand the simple ideas like the air pressure regulator for the fuel at the end of the video you can apply them to solve complex problems. I also told them that Germany was very hard to defeat in two world wars because they had invested in letting smart people work doing basic research. I cringe when I hear uneducated people complain about government money being wasted on basic research. As I watched the video the basic underlying physics ideas were clearly explained. Great Job.

[mtkoslowski]

The world’s first cruise missile I should think?
Edit: Thanks to the gentleman who provided the clearest explanation of how this device functioned that I have ever heard!

[heydonray]

at 5:30, I’m pretty sure the wooden sphere does NOT “dampen” magnetic interference at all. Rather, it’s made of wood so as to not CREATE interference with the compass. Any nonferrous material would have sufficed, but wood was probably more available than other strategic materials.