GERMAN FLYING BOMB ON DISPLAY AT WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 65, 16 March 1949, Page 5

GERMAN FLYING BOMB ON DISPLAY AT WHAKATANE

In the latter stages of the war Germany retaliated with a weapon that probably caused more damage in England than any other that had so far been turned against the island fortress. The V-l flying bomb, nonchantly called the “doodlebug” by Londoners, was a terrifying war instrument and was experienced only by the British people.

This bomb arrived at Whakatane for public display yesterday and attracted considerable attention. Weighing five tons this monster of destruction is being used by the R.N.Z.A.F. to assist in a recruiting campaign. It was captured in France just" after the invasion and was brought to New Zealand to be placed in the Wellington Museum. About 26 and a half feet long the bomb measures 19 feet from wing tip to wing tip. These are set in the cigar shaped hull about eight feet back from the nose, which contains the pin for setting off the ton of explosives it carries. The body is constructed of steel and the wings of ply wood. At the rear is a tailplane unit similar in construction to an aeroplane with elevators and rudder. A gyro is included in the nose and this operates the automatic pilot, situated near the rear of the bomb.

Run on alcohol and compressed air the flying bomb is driven by an “impulse duct” unit and can reach a top speed of 450 miles per hour, remaining in the air about 35 minutes.

On the way to Auckland the bomb has been displayed in other parts of New Zealand and before coming to Whakatane was displayed, at Opotiki and Gisborne. When the bomb was brought through the Waioeka Gorge during the end little difficulty was experienced, the trailer only having to be reversed on one corner.

The display is under the care of Corporal K. Jackman, L.A.C. G. Read and L.A.C. <T. Hughes. The party left this morning for Auckland.