416th Bombardment Group (L) Combat Missions NOBALL Targets

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416th BG NOBALL Targets

"NOBALL" ("No Ball") was the Allied codename for operational use of any German Vengeance Weapon ("V-weapon", German Vergeltungswaffe). Two of the primary V-weapons were the V1 Flying Bomb or pilotless aircraft (Allied codename "Diver") and the V2 long range rocket (codename "Big Ben"). Other secret German weapons were also developed such as the Rheinbote ("Rh", "Rhine Messenger") solid-fuel rocket and Hochdruckpumpe ("HDP", "High Pressure Pump") Super-Gun (Henshall, 2002).

The term "NOBALL" is believed to have been coined as a reference to "the ungentlemanly delivery of a ball in the game of cricket" (Williams, 2014).

The 416th BG flew 30 NOBALL Missions against 17 different Allied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU) Plan No. R/41 V1 "'A' Constructional Works" launch sites and 1 NOBALL mission (90) targeting "NOBALL 'E' Headquarters". All 416th BG NOBALL targets were in France, the first was Mission Number 5 (18-Mar-1944) and last was Mission 90 (5-Jul-1944). Several V1 targets were attacked by the 416th BG multiple times, and a few 416th BG Missions were flown against two different V1 sites.

All of the NOBALL missions flown by the 416th BG were against V1 Flying Bomb V-weapon sites, none against other types; hence this web page focuses on the V1.

(German Launch Battalion and V1 Site Number information from "V1 launch sites and infrastucture, France"
Abt - Abteilungen = Launch Battalion
Batterie = Battery
V1 Feuerstellung Nr. = V1 Launch Site Number
Unterkunftsstelle = Storage Site
Versorgungsstelle = Storage/Supply Site)

V1 Flying Bomb

The V1 was essentially a pilotless bomb with wings and an engine, what we call today a "cruise missile".

Several variations of the V1 missile were developed, tested and produced. Both construction specifics and published statistics vary, but a V1 flew at about 360 mph, was 25 to 27 feet long with just over a 17 foot wingspan, carried about 1,800 to 1,870 pounds of explosives and could strike up to 150 miles (later increased to about 200 miles) from its launch site.

The engine was not designed nor powerful enough for a static take-off, so a V1 had to be either launched via land-based steam-driven catapult system or released from an airplane in flight. These Flying Bombs were not very accurate. Once launched toward its intended target, the V1 stayed on course via a gyro-compass while a freely spinning propeller on its nose logged the distance travelled. When the pre-set distance was achieved, two detonators fired causing the rudder and elevators to lock, pushing the missile into a steep dive, which then typically caused the engine to stop. The bomb dropped indiscriminately to the ground and exploded. (Zaloga, 2005 p. 8, 19-20)

V1 Flying Bomb weapons were nick-named "Doodlebug" or "Buzz Bomb" by the Allies due to their distinctive engine sound. Captions on many of the NARA "WWII US Air Force Photos" V1 related photographs from Fold3.com refer to it as "Robot Plane", "Robot Bomb" or just "Robot". German Air Ministry (Reichs LuftMinisterium (RLM)) V1 codenames were "Fieseler 103"/"Fi 103", "Flakzielgerat 76"/"FZG.76" (Flak target equipment) and Kirschkern (cherry stone). (Gruen, 1998; Henshall, 2002)

     
V1 Flying Bomb
(Wikipedia, "V-1 Flying Bomb" (L)
LiveScience, "Photos: The Flying Bombs of Nazi Germany" (R))


A V1 ready for launching. (U.S. Air Force photo)
(National Museum of the USAF, "German V-Weapons: Desperate Measures")

Per "V-Weapons (Crossbow) Campaign" "The code word "Crossbow" was used throughout the period of planning and operations as a convenient term for any matters relating to the attack on England by long range weapons, including all counter-measures against such attacks." "Crossbow" replaced the earlier code name "Bodyline" on November 15, 1943 (Gruen, 1998 p. 15). Germany planned "Operation Eisbar" ("Polar bear") with the aim of devastating London, England via the use of their new Vengeance Weapons.

V1 Launch Sites

The initial "Site System 1" phase of V1 launch base development and construction contained 96 "Type A" sites along the coast of the English Channel between Dieppe and Calais, France. These sites were constructed with a launch ramp (shielded on both sides with concrete walls), a non-magnetic "alignment" building, a launch bunker, 3 long missile storage buildings (the "Skis"), along with other smaller storage buildings for fuel and supplies. (Zaloga, 2005)

Due to the distinctive pattern, these "Type A" sites were easily recognized from aerial photographs once the Allied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU) identified their use. Because Yvrench's Bois Carre was the first to be identified as a V1 launch site, subsequent sites were also often called "Bois Carre sites" (Williams, 2014), and were also referred to as "Ski-sites" due to long, narrow buildings with one end curved which "resembled giant skis laid on their sides" (Henshall, 2002).

     
Vertical photographic-reconnaissance aerials of a flying-bomb launch site
at Bois Carre, near Yvrench, Somme, France, discovered and documented by the agents of the Reseau AGIR.
Left: Site under construction (HU 92983),
photographed 3-Nov-1943 by RAF Flight Sergeant James McGinn Aitken of 541 Squadron, Sortie E/463. (Williams, 2014)
Right: 6 July 1944 after Allied air attacks (HU 92984).
The Left photograph confirmed intelligence reports that flying-bomb sites were being constructed in the Pas-de-Calais area.
ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS BY THE PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE UNITS, 1939-1945.
copyright: IWM (HU 92983 and 92984)

     

Left: Robot ski site at Yvrench, France photographed on 9 November 1943 shows ski in process of construction.
Complete sites call for three skis, which are long low buildings of heavy concrete, used for storage.
Reason for curved end not yet known.
(Fold3.com, NARA ID: 342-FH-3A16047-53284AC)
Right: Low-level oblique photographic-reconnaissance aerial of the flying-bomb launch site at Bois Carre
near Abbeville, France, taken by a North American Mustang of No. 170 Squadron RAF.
The non-magnetic building (Richthaus) can be seen beneath its camouflaged canopy in the centre of the photograph,
while the buildings of the compressor and decontamination group are in the right foreground.
(ROYAL AIR FORCE: 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE, 1943-1945. IWM (C 4425))
Both photographs by RAF 170 Squadron, Sortie R/134/170 or R/135/170, 9-Nov-1943. (Williams, 2014)


Sketch done by French labourer/engineer Andre Camp working for the Germans at the site.
(from V-1 Flying Bomb)

     
Left: Diagram of a completed V-1 launching site at Maisoncelle, France.
Right: Crossbow Network January, 1944. Map shows 2 primary areas where Germany was building V-Weapon Launch Sites.
(from Wikipedia.com V-1 Flying Bomb facilities)

     
Example NOBALL Target Illustrations: XI/A/39/6 (Left - Yvrench Bois Carre) and XI/A/62/1 (Right - Petit Bois Tillencourt)
Mission 17 - 13-Apr-1944

The first V1 Launch site (Yvrench Bois Carre) was identified by Allied Intelligence in early November, 1943 and by January, 1944, all 96 of the original "Type A" V1 Launch sites had been located and mapped. Bombing of V1 sites began December 5, 1943 by 9th AF B-26's, and continued raids were made by the RAF, 8th AF and 9th AF for many months.

In December, 1943, the German V1 program commanders had realized the "Site System 1" bases were such obvious targets that they could not be effectively utilized. However, they decided to complete construction and perform repairs on these bases in an effort to distract Allied bombing raids from a new series of bases. The new "Operational Site System" bases were designed without the distinctive "Ski" buildings, thus were more difficult to identify by photo reconnaissance. Germany referred to the original "Type A" ski sites as Stellungen alter Bauart ("Old pattern sites) and the new ones as Einsatz Stellungen ("Special sites"); Allies called them "Modified Sites" or "Belhamelin" (based on the first one identified) sites. (Zaloga, 2005)

Vertical photographic reconnaissance view of the modified flying-bomb site at Vignacourt, Somme, France. The launching ramp can be seen in the orchard at top right. Directly below it is the non-magnetic building (Richthaus), and, to the left, abutting genuine farm buildings, is the bomb assembly building. Although betrayed by their size, both structures have been disguised with pitched roofs to blend into the local area.
(ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS BY THE PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE UNITS, 1939-1945. IWM (CH 16107))

The Germans identified the V1 Launch Sites with numbers such as V1 Feuerstellung Nr. 660 (Yvrench Bois Carre), V1 Feuerstellung Nr. 152 (Vignacourt), etc.

How It Works

The booklet "Flying Bombs" published in December, 1944 by the British Information Services includes the following information regarding how the V-1 operated.

Description extracted from "Flying Bombs", Pages 20 and 22.


Diagram from "Flying Bombs", back cover.

ACIU, Reconnaissance, Crossbow Committee

Early in the War, the British recognized the need to keep an eye on German activities and began flying Photographic Reconnaissance (PR) missions and interpreting the resulting photographs. The Central Interpretation Unit (CIU), later renamed to Allied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU) after the USA joined the War, was based at RAF Medmenham, England and was the British/Allied center for Photographic Intelligence (PI). (Zaloga, 2018)

As rumors and reports of Germany's secret development of long-range rockets grew, many recon missions were flown to uncover evidence and details. In April, 1943 the British Air Ministry directed the CIU to investigate the German secret weapons program, and the new "Bodyline" Committee (later renamed to "Crossbow" on November 15, 1943) was formed and tasked with keeping track of reports about missile weapons. (Gruen, 1998; Williams, 2014; Zaloga, 2018)

Starting in 1937, Germany began developing the Peenemunde Army Research Center large experimental facility, (Peenemunde West as the Luftwaffe Test Site) on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, as the primary location for rocket development and testing. (Wikipedia; Williams, 2014) The British received their first notice of Peenemunde in November, 1939 via an anonymous report that became known as the Oslo Report. Over subsequent years, Peenemunde was the target of multiple British photo recon flights, and the July 12, 1943 mission photographed an A-4 (V2) missile. A follow-on mission on July 23rd exposed the FZG.76 (V1) for the first time, although it was not immediately recognized as a Flying Bomb. (Zaloga, 2018)

As shown above, photo reconnaissance and interpretation identified V1 Launch sites. From these, in conjunction with recon photos showing the physical V1 Flying Bombs, the Crossbow Committee had a fairly complete understanding of the V1 threat by December, 1943. (Williams, 2014)

FR155 W

The Luftwaffe organization responsible for manning the V1 sites was Flak-Regiment 155 (Werfer) - "FR155 W". The German word Werfer means "Launcher".

Oberst ("Colonel") Max Wachtel was appointed commander of the first missile unit, the Lehr-und-Erprobungskommando Wachtel ("Wachtel Training and Test Command") in April, 1943. This unit was the seed for the later FR155 W which was created August 1, 1943. (Henshall, 2002; Zaloga, 2005, 2018)

FR155 W included four Abteilungen (Launch Battalions), designated "I. Abt", "II. Abt", "III. Abt" and "IV. Abt". Each Battalion contained three Launch Batteries and a Maintenance & Supply Battery. A Launch Battery had three Launch Platoons, each with two Launch Ramps. This totaled 18 Launch Ramps per Battalion and 72 Launch Ramps for the Regiment. A Launch Ramp was staffed by around 50 personnel and the FR155 W Regiment as a whole totaled between 3,500 and 6,500 personnel. (Henshall, 2002; Zaloga, 2005)

Luftwaffe Order of Battle for Operation Eisbar, June 1944
Flak-Regiment 155 (Werfer)
(Zaloga, 2005, 2018)

Unit	Code-Name (to Aug 1944)	Commanders
FR155W	Flakgruppe Criel	Colonel Max Wachtel
I. Abteilung	Zylinder ("Top-hat")	Major Hans Aue
II. Abteilung	Werwolf ("Werewolf")	Captain Rudolf Sack
III. Abteilung	Zweiback ("Biscut")	Lt. Colonel Erich Dittrich
IV. Abteilung	Zechine ("Sequin")	Captain Georg Schindler (Major Steinhof)
Signals Abteilung	Vandale ("Vandal")	Captain Henry Neubert

Simplified V1 Launch Timeline

After several years of effort to develop a suitable engine for a Flying Bomb, the German Reichs LuftMinisterium (Air Ministry, "RLM") officially authorized the development of the Flakzielgerat 76 (FZG.76) on June 19, 1942. The first successful launch was made 24 December 1942 at Peenemunde, but multiple technological problems delayed full production implementation.

Flak-Regiment 155 (W) set up in August 1943 and began their training for the operational use of the V1 which was originally planned to begin December 1943. A combination of multiple factors, including German political instability and decisions by Adolph Hitler and Allied bombing of Crossbow launch, supply, transportaion and factory targets, ultimately delayed the first V1's from being launched against England until the early morning of June 13, 1944, a week after D-Day.

V1 missiles continued to be fired on England until launch sites were overrun by Allied ground forces as they continued pushing the German Army back. The last V1 to be recorded in flight to London was destroyed by British gunfire over Orfordness, Suffolk on March 28, 1945. (Hogg, 2016)

Even though the Germans had continued to construct and repair the "Type A" V1 Launch sites for use as "decoys" after determining they were too obvious of a target, the Allied bombing operations against these sites was not a total waste of effort. The fact that these sites were identified and bombed as soon as they were constructed had a significant impact in successfully delaying the beginning of the V1 program by Germany.

Fortunately, the primary short-term military objective of Crossbow operations from December 1943 to June 1944 was to prevent the Germans from using V-Weapon bombardment to disrupt or interfere with Operation Overload, the invasion of Normandy proved successful. (Gruen, 1998)

References and Websites

This web page is intended to provide a brief, general overview of the V1 Flying Bomb Vengence Weapon developed and used by Germany in WWII. Many books, publications and websites exist with much more information on the German Secret Weapons of WWII. Below are those selected and used for this web page.

Selected Books/Articles related to WWII German V-Weapons

Selected Websites

• ATLANTIKWALL. "V1-Heavy Base Yvrench 'Bois Carre'". (PDF copy)


• Axis History Forum. "Flak-Regiment 155".


• Battlefieldsww2.com. "V1 launch site Bois Carre". (PDF copy)


• Blighty At War. "V-1 Flying Bomb". (PDF copy)


• COALHOUSE FORT PROJECT. "V1 (Flying Bomb) Vengance weapon site, Hazebrouck". (PDF copy)


• Fold3.com. "WWII US Air Force Photos". [Requires Free Registration to access photo images]


• Google Maps. "V1 Sites".


• Imperial War Museums (IWM), U.K.. "Photographs Collection"; "Photographs - RAF Raids on V-Weapon Sites 1943-1945, NW Europe, WWII"; "Photographs - V-Weapon Offensive 1944-1945, UK WWII".


• LiveScience. "Photos: The Flying Bombs of Nazi Germany".


• National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP). "Welcome to NCAP". [Contains many WWII Reconnaissance Photos. Thumbnails searchable/viewable for free, subscription required to zoom, full-size images available for purchase]


• National Museum of the USAF. "German V-Weapons: Desperate Measures".


• RAF Commands Forums. "V1 Ski Sites and codes thread".


• RELIKTE. "V1 launch sites and infrastucture"; "V1 launch sites and infrastucture - France".


• The National Archives (TNA), U.K.,. "Discovery". [Search TNA Catalogue]


• TracesOfWar. "V1 launch sites".


• USSBS. "V-Weapons Crossbow Campaign". Reports of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey, Military Analysis Division, 1947. 52 p. LC CALL NUMBER: D785.U6 No. 60 (PDF copy)


• Warbirds Resource Group. "Fi-103/V-1 "Buzz Bomb".


• Wikipedia. "Operation Crossbow"; "Peenemunde Army Research Center"; "Reseau AGIR"; "V-1 Flying Bomb"; "V-1 Flying Bomb facilities".