The Fi-103 or 'Reichenberg' was a V1 flying bomb with cockpit and flight control controls. A number of such flying bombs were discovered by the Allied armies advancing on Germany. Without a second thought, the Allies concluded that it was a manned flying bomb, which would be used in suicide missions. .
Germans committed to the National Socialist regime, they believed, would fly with them and crash with them on selected targets in London or elsewhere, sacrificing their lives to achieve a guaranteed result.
At the same time, the suicide (kamikaze) planes of the Japanese were carrying out regular attacks against the American ships in the Pacific, while the Japanese also presented the flying suicide bomb Ohka. So it was logical to assume that the German National Socialists would not be behind in their fanaticism.
The truth, however, seems to be much more prosaic. German engineers questioned insisted that the specific flying machines were built solely to study the flight capabilities of the V1 so that the necessary design modifications could be made.
However, recent research has brought to light more information about the Reichenberg plan. There is no doubt that the conversion of the flying bomb into a manned craft, initially at least, was done to evaluate the aerodynamic behavior of the V1. But once it was realized that it was possible for the V1 to fly as a conventional aircraft, the idea was born to remove its warhead and replace it with guns or rockets.
The craft would be towed through the air until it had the necessary starting speed to allow it to fire up its engine and fly autonomously. It would then head towards the nearest formation of enemy bombers, shoot down as many as possible could before the estimated 30-45 seconds of autonomy is used up. The operator would then glide to his base and then abandon the expendable aircraft, using his parachute.
This particular idea does not seem to have progressed. Then it was actually proposed to use the boat as a flying suicide bomb. Piloted by fanatics, the manned flying bombs would be directed against selected vital targets. Could it be assumed that a large number of enthusiastic volunteer operators would appear? Such a thing did not happen.
Of course volunteers showed up and about 150 V 1s were converted into manned Reichenbergs. But by the time preparations were completed, the main target – the Allied fleet in Normandy – was no longer in the area. The landings had been successfully completed.
When the operators were asked to kill themselves by hitting less important targets such as railway stations and bridges, the interest of the latter evaporated and the manned flying bomb program was simply abandoned.
British soldiers with a captured Fi-103.