Warbird Information Exchange

With a few exceptions, works numbers never seem to be quoted for surviving Fi. 103s. This creates a lot of confusion as airframes have moved around over the years.

Why is this? Were they not assigned? Not recorded on the airframes? Not easily accessible? Or???

The Wk Nr for each Fi 103 was stamped into the top of the lifting lug on top of the fuselage, directly above where the wing spar goes through the fuel tank. Unless you know to look for it there, it is often obscured with multiple layers of paint.

On the Fi103 R Reichenberg that I restored for the Canadian War Museum, it wasn't until I took it down to bare metal, that I was able to read the number. I suspect that given the relative rarity of the "airframes" each one is currently known by its current residence as opposed to its Wk Nr.

are we talking about the v-1 manned pulse jet if i'm not mistaken??

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Tom - The scope of the question pertained to all Fi.103s, including but not limited to the manned Fi.103-R.

One-O-Wonder - Thank you for the information and insights.

thank you. I know famous german aviatrix Hannah reitch ( last name might be misspelled)supposedly flew 1, or was slated to, but don't know any other details of her experience w/ the piloted v-1 proposal.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_Reitsch#V-1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieseler_F ... henberg%29

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

add rabid Nazi & anti-Semite to her credentials.

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

I've been noodling around a bit and have found virtually no information on the identities of the surviving American built V-1 copies (Republic JB-2 Loon, etc). Without recorded identities it's tough to come up with a census of survivors that's anywhere near accurate. The Preserved Axis Aircraft list is a good starting point, but there is always the risk that anonymous individual examples may get double counted at different locations.

Perhaps some day once Peter Arnold has finished learned absolutely everything there is to know about Spitfires he's shift his attention to pulse jets and set the record straight!