Flying Bomb F.Z.G.76

Rare Restricted schematic showing the inner workings of the V-1 Flying Bomb, the world’s first cruise missile.

This rare cutaway diagram was illustrated by Peter Ensleigh Castle in 1944, while he was a member of the Air Intelligence Branch of the Air Ministry. It was one of numerous ‘Restricted’ images designed by Castle (he was joined by Kerry Lee) for the War Office to better visualize and comprehend Axis military hardware.

The detailed chart shows the inner workings of the dreaded V-1 Flying Bomb, nicknamed the Doodlebug or Buzz Bomb for its loud humming pulse engine. Launched from angled ramps along the coast of occupied France, Denmark, and Norway, the pilotless bombs could be considered the world’s first cruise missiles. They were intended as a terror weapon and used indiscriminately against civilians, since their rudimentary guidance system limited the input of accurate targeting data.

Eventually, it was discovered that one of the most effective methods for taking out a V-1 was for a brave RAF pilot to approach its wing with an intercepting aircraft, knocking the missile off course and to the ground. Of the approximately 10,000 Doodlebugs launched at England in 1944 and 1945, nearly a quarter were disabled before they ever reached the British coast. However, their impact was tangible and many found their mark, with 3,500+ successful strikes killing over 6,000 civilians and causing millions of pounds in property damage.

The diagram was first sketched by Castle in July of 1944, just a few weeks after the first intact V-1 had been recovered in the English countryside. A key in the lower right identifies 37 different critical components, including the spherical bottles of compressed air, various steering mechanisms, and the approximately 2,000 lb high-explosive warhead. Despite the urgency of the information, the resulting publication was not issued by Civil Service printers (Hudson, Scott & Sons) until September. It was still likely ultimately displayed to thousands of Allied flight crews, offering valuable details about the operational weaknesses of the fearsome weapon.

According to Donald Nijboer in his book, Graphic War, most of the diagrams were destroyed shortly after the war, making the survivors exceedingly scarce. Copies of this particular example have been identified at the Imperial War Museum in London, the FDR Presidential Library, and the University of Virginia. OCLC# 85480659.