V1's were originally launched from northern France by catapults attached to 157 foot long launch rails, but were eventually also released from airplanes. The tail section of the bombs contained rudders and elevators that were controlled automatically by an electrical compass in the nose and on-board gyros powered by spherical tanks of compressed air. Approximately the first ten percent of each day's launches would contain a small radio transmitter that emitted a signal when the missile approached within thirty kilometers of its intended target. Through triangulation, the Germans could calculate the location of each missile, make adjustments on subsequent launches for wind conditions, and therefore improve the accuracy of their aim. The range of the flight was predetermined and set inside the bomb before it was launched. Most missiles fired against London were targeted for Tower Bridge, right in the center of the city. A tiny propeller on the nose of the bomb was attached to the Veeder counter. Every 30 rotations of the propeller would count down one number on the counter. When the pre-set counter reached zero, the bomb was considered to be at its target. The air hose from the servo to the rear elevator was automatically cut, a spring mechanism would snap down the elevators, and the V1 would descend into a steep dive.
on June 15 catapults at 55 sites flew off 244 missiles against London within 24 hours. Of these, 144 crossed the coast of southeast England and 73 fell in the Greater London area, two-thirds of them exploding south of the Thames. Some 100 missiles failed to cross the Channel: 45 of them crashed soon after launching, wrecking nine sites; and in a French village where one crashed ten civilians were killed.
Not exactly a stellar CEP
For us fighter fans, the top "doodlebug ace" was Squadron Leader Joseph Berry, who flew Tempest Vs with the Fighter Interception Unit, and then No. 501 Squadron. Berry's final score was 59.5 V-1s, including a one-night record of seven on July 23.
