05/22/2005. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The Fi 103 is also known as the V1 (Vergeltungswaffe 1, Retaliation Weapon 1), the first of the "secret weapons" that was expected to turn the war in favor of the Germans in 1944. Over 30,000 of these flying bombs with a warhead of 1,874 lb (850 kg) were produced until March 1945.
Hitting London for the first time on June 13, 1944, the projectiles were ground and air-launched. The RAF intercepted 1,771 V1s, the Hawker Tempest Mk.V scoring over one-third. Later the flying bombs were aimed also at other targets such as the ports of Antwerp in Belgium.
However, many thousands malfunctioned during or after launch, or were destroyed by the Allied forces therefore not reaching the intended targets. The V1 had the code name "Kirschkern" ("Cherry Stone") and the cover name "Flakzielgerat 76" ("FZG 76", "Flak Target Device 76"). Flak was the abbreviation for Flugzeugabwehrkanone (anti-aircraft cannon.)
