| Show Written Exclusively for For Features to tc tobe tobe Tests on a be launched from the back of a Dornier Dornier Dor Dor- completed in ir nier in flight night were April 1944 1044 When it became apparent apparent apparent ap ap- parent however that production in any quantity could not begin begir decided that the for months it was V V-I buzz bomb should be altered sufficiently to take care of the project Perilous Test Flights Fights installed installed installed in in- compartment was A pilots pilot's small stalled in the V V-I and other modifications made and then it was tested There was a n high fatality rate among the test pilots but I Reitsch came through and was convinced convinced convinced con- con vinced that this was the weapon that could be used The particular danger in testing these planes was in landing them whether as gliders of unit because or with a power the speed and angle at which they simulated simulated simu simu- came in Ship targets were by colored smoke bombs on the ground and dives and approaches approaches approaches ap ap- ap- ap were made to test angles and necessary speeds An intricate aiming device was developed The most important thing that had to be bedone bedone bedone done carefully and accurately was to determine the distance from the ship that the V V-I was supposed to enter the water The size and weight of the ship had to be judged exact exact- ly By a sliding scale cale on the apparatus before him the pilot was able to select his proper angle and maintain main main- tam tain it correctly until his plane entered entered entered en en- the water The dive toward the water at a speed probably greater great great- er than miles an hour was to disintegrate the V V-I and give the necessary Impetus to the torpedo to continue on through the water until it reached a certain position when the time fuse ruse would automatically set off of But the Nazi suicide squad never got Into action Even the technical development was not fully complete when the war ended to say nothing of production that would have put the weapon into action Reitsch lays the failure to get the project into operation as well as all other failures of German Gennan air power to Goering She says that the spirit with which Goering had infused the was detrimental tal to our project was well known to all of us We needed strong le leadership led lead d- d tempered with an idealism that matched our own Most of all nil we needed a leader who saw the present military situation March 1944 in the same degree of precariousness precariousness precariousness as we ourselves saw it it |
