Project Aphrodite
A most important goal: The V-1 launching pads
With remote control and a TV steering system equipped and with 25.000 lbs (11,340 kg) Torpex explosive the loaded PB4Y-1 Liberator of the SAU-1 was led by a PV-1 Ventura leading-airplane. The PB4Y-1 with a crew of two started men, which brought the machine on 2.000 to feet (600 m) and course on V-1 positions in France, before it bailed out with the parachute.
Despite several alarming in the preceeding weeks the first Aphrodite employment took place in the early afternoon of 4 August, as two "Babies" with in each case 64,000 lbs (29,000 kg) weight in the distance of 5 minutes in Fersfield started and large concreted V-1 launching pads close of the French channel coast to the target had.
The two AZON leading-airplane had ascended already 45 minutes before, in order to be able to achieve a fixed inspection point in 20.000 feet (6,000 m) height. The two "Babies" were advanced with the help of a B-17-controll-airplane to the inspection points, where the guidance airplanes the radio price increase took over. Then the "babies" flew a 50-miles rectangle-course to 2.000 feet height, while its could be examined the remote control.
For each Baby a B-24 leading-airplane as well as a B-17 were present as reserve leading-airplane for the case that on the way radio communication should fail. The "Babies" had white painted the top side of the surfaces and the fin to the better recognizability. A Mosquito Weather observation aircraft flew in front and a further B-17 served than relay station for weather information.
Tailspin into death
The crew of the first "Babies" left its machine between Woodbridge and the point of coastal overflight in Orfordness. The flight second "Babies" ended with a disaster:
After switching to radio telecontrol the machine changed into an easy climb. The pilot returned it into the horizontal flight, but after renewed switching the error arose again. With the third attempt the climb to an flow separation and the Fortress led turned out into wobbling. The radio operator could save itself still with the parachute, the pilot 1st Lt. John Fischer, died however, when he left the machine only directly before the impact and the explosion. The water-filled krater is today still present.
B-17F Taint A Bird 42-30342
The first Baby (B-17F 42-30342) was steered successfully over the English Channel, then however stepped a disturbance in the altitude control on and with the further tax maneuvers fell the machine northwest Gravelines at some distance of its goal, the V-1 position in cotton wool. Reason was probably a Flak hit. With the explosion the B-17 was divided into smallest fragments, those over a surface of approx 5 km were scattered.
When the leading-airplane returned to its homeland airfield, two further "Babies" started, this time against V-1 positions in Wizernes and Mimoyecques. The course over the county Suffolk and the point of coastal overflight were the same as before. Both crews could bailed out with the parachute; two of the men were however easily hurt thereby. The Baby with the target Wizernes turned out with the target approach in the low clouds except view and impacted only behind its target - which radio operator in the mother airplane had the effect of the elevator wrongly computed.
After Flak crews had announced the firing of the B-17 intended for the attack on cotton wool and their unusual behavior, the crash place was examined. But despite the absence of corpses and MGs as well as the enormous extents of the craters the incident was not recognized as employment of a special weapon.