Fliegerhorst Grove.

 
         
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Infrastructure related to V-1 at Grove..

 
         
 

Part 16/2.

 
     
   
     
     
         
Underground building with unknown function.  It is almost completely embedded in the soil, it is somewhat remote from other buildings, but located in the main aircraft maintenance area. It does bear some resemblance with the Zunderlager, which was a building specially designed for storage of V-1 fuzes.  When one embeds a building this deep, it is either because it contains something essential, which should be offered maximum protection, or one wants to protect the surroundings if what ever is in the building accidentally blows up.  Three bunkers with similar internal measurements and rooms and 60 cm walls were built at FlH Aalb-West.  It is our conclusion that it was a storage building for V-1 fuzes.
         
     
         
Gruppe Grove has found 10 of these inversed T shape revetments.  Since they are too narrow to accommodate a Bf 109 or a Fw 190, it is our conclusion that they were used for storage of V-1s.
     
         
  The missile was transported around on a Zuberingerwagen (transport trolly).  
         
     
         
  The center part of the fuselage of the V-1 was made of steel.  When a steel object has been stored for some time in same direction a local magnetic field builds up.  This could affect the compass in the missile.  In order to re-orientate the field, the missile was suspended in the Richthaus in the planned launch direction and it was hit with hammers for some time.  The drawing on the left depicts one of the three Richthaus built at Grove.  The drawing on the right depicts the suspension of the missile.  
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  Five of the above constructions have been found at Grove.  In the immediate post liberation registration they are labeled "Fueling points".  They are all located in the aircraft dispersal area, and again they are too small to accommodate an aircraft.  But they have just the right size to accommodate two V-1 on Zubringerwagen.  Of interest is also that the radius of the Rollbahn leading on to the concrete platform is the same as that in the Ski-building in the heavy sites in France.  It is our conclusion that they were used to fuel V-1.  The missile was then picked up by a front-loader and driven to the aircraft to be loaded.
         
       
         
   
         
Location of the V-1 fueling points and inverse T-Walls.  Please note that a normal gauge railway is leading right up to the area.
         
  My deduction on the preparations of the V-1 for loading. .
1.  The missiles were delivered by railroad and transported to the T-Shaped revetments where they were assembled and stored.  2.  A few hours prior to loading the missiles were transported to a Richthaus  where the  magnetic field was aligned.
3.  They were then placed on a Zubringerwagen whereupon they were driven to the fueling points where they were fueled and stored prior to loading on an aircraft.
4.  Based on the forecast wind, the autopilot was set with a desired compass course and the distance to the target.  This was measured by the air-log in the nose of the missile.
5.  The launching aircraft was then taxied to a position close to the fueling point.  The missile was picked up by a front loader and loaded onto the aircraft and finally the fuzes were installed.