THE LAST ATTEMPT IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE FOUR MOTORED AIRCRAFT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2003
• Sequence Number: 20
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved G false
r1, FOREIGN DOCUMENTS DIVISIt'i?,
L5fUMNLYRDP75BOO285RO40200060020-2
I's MAY 1962
Approved For Release ,200311
' CIA-RDP7 B( 0285R000200060020-2
 25X1A
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285ROO0200060020-2
The Last Attempt in the Battle Against the Four Motored Aircraft.
LTranslator's note: The first paragraph of this article has
been clipped so that an attempt at translation would have
little or no value]
Three months after issuing the contract, the fiitts test machine
left the assembly hall in Waldsee. It was planned to construct a
test series of 50 machines, of which ten were to be used for each of
the five test levels. (Naturally, each test flight ended with
loss of an aircraft). The 51st machine-ioto be the first one that
3m manned and * to start with rocket propulsion. Bachem only made
six machines available for the testing of the flight characteristics
(the original plan for the 50 test models could no longer be adhered
to due to the pressure of events). Instead of engines, these six
machines were equipped with ballast which was equal to the installa-
tion weight with full tanks. In the vicinity of Heuberg, He-Ill's
took these six Natters aloft on tow lines and released them at the
height of 5,500 meters. The machines were put into a steep dive and
speeds of up to 700 kilometers per hour were attained. The slowest
gliding speed was about 200 kilometers per hour. In all cases, the
pilots ascertained that the stability characteristics of the Natter
were excellent. The first unmanned vertical takeoff took place on
18 December 1944. The machines contained only four Schmidding rockets
because the Walter engines which had been promised could not be deli-
vered at that time (they were needed more for the Me 163). This first
takeoff was a fiasco: the Natter did not become airborne because the
exhaust flame of the rockets burned through the release cable. On
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
 Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285-R000200060020-2
22 December, Bachem undertook the second test. The test machine was
raised on to the lowered takeoff rack, the tower was set up (height
approximately 25 meters), and the ignition was switched on. The
Natter shot aloft as planned and disappeared into the clouds at an
altitude of 750 m. Ten other machine* took off without any inter-
ruptions (unmanned). In the course of these testa it was learned
that the lowest takeoff speed was not sufficient to maintain an ef-
fective steering pressure to correct the flight path by moving the
rudder. The solution was simple but effective: they lengthened the
axis of the control surfaces towards the center of the fuselage
(in the case of the horizontal stabilizers and elevators this was
done through a transmission with pushrods) and small control surfaces
were fastened directly in front of the mouth of the flame tube. For
a period of 30 seconds they could be cooled by spraying water on them,
then they burned up. After this time the machine had attained a suf -
ficinet velocity for effective rudder movements. The test of unman-
ned instruments was carried out up to altitudes of 3,000 m and satis-
fied Bachem's expectations. Only the functioning of the automatic
triple axis steering left something to be desired. The automatic
pilots did not function in the desired manner and their synchroniza-
tion had to be,proved.
In February 1945, Bachem received the first Walter engine for
installation in a Natter. On 25 February, this machine took off and
in the cockpit a life size doll was fastened to act as pilot. The
test was a success. The machine climed vertically upwards, reached
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
 Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
its summit, broke into its planned party and pilot and tail assembly
Ministry
landed by parachute. The Air / reacted promptly and requested the
manned test imu?diately.
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 :3CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
 Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
Bachem ii: He stated that the test had not yet reached the
level in which one could safely guarantee that the pilot could be
saved. According to the opinion of Professor Ruff of the DVL Lsic/
the medium acceleration during a take-off would hardly endanger a
pilot with a normal constitution, however, he said it was still too
early. In spite of this clear refusal, the air ministry still
maintained its demand for a man take=off and sent 1st Lieutenant
Lothar Siebert, who had volunteered for this undertaking, into the
black forest. There he was trained in the handling of the machine
and everyone crossed their fingers for success and the health-* return
of Siebert. The young 1st lieutenant climbed onto the take-off
platform, forced himself into the narrow cockpit, and fastened his
seat belt. The hood was closed and a few seconds later the natter
shot vertically aloft with a thrust of 3,700 kiloponds. It had just
reached a height of 500 meters when the hood tore off, the machine
flipped over on its back and crashed. It was torn into plp.ces by the
explosion (the effect of the fuel and C-material). The investigation
of the accident which followed showed that in all probabilitty the
cockpit hood had been damaged during the transportation of the
machine to the take-off area and did not fit correctly. The force of
the wind entering the cockpit supposedly threw Sebert's head back
against the head support so vilently that it broke his neck.
When they found Siebert he was still hanging strapped into his seat
which the explosion of the plane when it hit the ground had thrown
Approved For Release 2003/11(254: gIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
 Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
out. Inspite of this tragic finish of the first manned verti,le
take off of a utter, other volunteers reported for a continuation
of the tests. After further improvements on the aircraft, three
more manned take-offs were carried out, in each case with success.
The aircraft was almost ready for use. Still during the first
series machines of the type Ba 349A, whose components were being
partially produced by small factories in the Black forest [the
rest of the last column has been so clipped that a translation
of it would be pratically unintelligable.]
Bachem 349 A "Matter" ((diagram)
1. Ejectable plexi glass nose cone, uncovers rocket battery.
2. Rocket racks for 24 "Foehn" rockets.
3? Ring tit r
4. Area of the forward armor plating.
5? Accumulator (for operation of instrumentsand rockets)
6. Separation rib of the ejectable nose of the fuselage.
7. Side control pedal
8. Control stick for combined elevation and aileron.
9. Instrument panel
10. Windsheld, steel plates with armored glass
11. Seat
12. Safety belts
13. Back cushion
14. Cushioned head support
15. Bear ward armor plating
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : FIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
 Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
16. Cock pit hood
17. Container for fuel
18. Fueling nozzle
19. Container for C material [sic]
20. Fueling nozzle
21. 109-509 A (Walter) aggregate
22. Fuselage nominal breaking point
23. Forward mountings and contacts for additional take
off rockets
24. Rear suspension lugs for take off rockets
25. Parachute for air frame and engine, Mbiftmw t?c k,-
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 6CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
 Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
26. Parachute container with ejection mechanism (ejection plate)
27. Release cable for parachute, activated by the ejection of the
fuselage nose
28. Cover plate in ejection position
29. Combustion chamber 109-509A
30. Transmission for elevator and rudders
31. Push bars
32. Rudder waves with lengthened ( one or two words missing) jet
rudders
33. Push bars for elevator jet rudders
34. Jet rudder
35. Cable connection for rudder
36. Upper lateral tail assembly wood construction
37. Rudder
38. Lower lateral tail assembly, wood construction
39. Glide' mounting for take-off
I0. Lateral rudder
41. Elevator tail assembly, wood construction
42. Differential controled elevator tail assembly
43. Wing) in wood construction
44. Four-ply main wood (strut)
45. Forward auxiliary spar as solid
46. Rear auxiliary spar, solid
47. Wing tip strip with glide mounting
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
- 7 -
 Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
ES
COP
Available
Approved For Release 2003/11/25 : CIA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
 r~~,r?seved F~Release 2003111/25 : I.IA-RDP75B00285R000200060020-2
1 R A ~(ET E H E ~' .O,;i Manate noch Auftragserteilung verfJeeen
disc ersten Yersuchsmoschinen die' Montageholle
von Woldsee. Es war vorgesehen, eine Versuchs-
serie von 50 Mas hinen zu bouen, von denen je
zehn fOr jede der funf Versuchsstufen vvrwendot
warden so111u. (Jeder Versuc)sflug endeto natOr?
I ch mil dem Ver!us, eines Flugzo4sgu,) Ertl die
einundfOnizig;tv Maichine soiree bsm.anpi until.
rri t Rakt:tenontr'eb Slone, Zijr Etpr6bting air'
F)tt>Qlge~-ss,~ttsrn stollte tachern nur sends Ma-
Der ernfliegende Bomberver? schiiOf'. Lr' V?rfiJ4uni1 tie ursp-tflf(jfit a
diesem Zweek von e+nem W0rr? citing fur tunftig V Muster konnte vnter dam
mcsson,dessen Me8resuftot, Ober Zwang der Erorgnrsse niche mahr aingeholten
erdt geloitel, einen entsprechen- werdan. Diese sechs Moschinen erhielten Stott
r den Ftugwe{1 der Natter gob. Triebwerke ballast, der dam Gcwicht der InitA1-
ch aus,'da8 der Pilot bei, nar, lotion mit vollen Tunks entsprach. Im 8ereich des
3n sp6testens 1 500 Metter vari Heubergs nohrnen He 111 these sedq-Nottetrn im
.alt rs;ktionsf?+ti:v !1'i1`V4rde; Tra'g"chfepp' noch abet urid klinfden she bei
ri t;on noch seinem Willen nu)- 3 500 m Hahe nus. In Ste"?f?~flOgen wirdon die Ma-
schinan ousgelogen und Geschwindigkeiten bis
.rc.h, obwohl noch sorgfaltrgen ' zu 700 km'h erreicht. [),in langsarnste Glo,tflug-
S'art?Andruckbeiostung 2,7 g geschw1ndigkert log bn, 200 km h -- in ollon F61-
en wurde. -Die spotere Plug- let sleilten die i':Icte,r `e>r. dad die Stab titdts-
s, data der Pilot in jedem Soli t?igensdraften der Natter ausceereichnef waren.
r,,rfor (und aemnad 2,2 C. wait Dur erste anbomannte Senkrechisictri erfolgfeam
del) und the $teuerung durch IT Dezember 1944. Die Moschine erhipit nur Yier
,e durchaus bngebrachte Hilfe Schmidding-Roketen, do die zugesagten Wolter-
tribliwerka_anch tithe oafiefort warden konnten
- man brouchte tie ratlger for di. Me 1tl3. Diener
erste Start war ein F'toskos Dii Natter hob niche
ob, do die Feverstrahlen der Raketen dio Aus-
losekobol durchgebratttnt batten. Am 22. Dezem-
be . unternahm Sachem den xwceten Versuch. DSc
Versuchsmaschine wurdb oi,fdie;umgelegteStart l of ette gehoben, der T}titufpsricbtet (HGhe
rund'25 m) vnd die Zoridttng eingescholtet. Dir.
Nat+sr .4chofl proaramragsn>db,.ttodt oben ur..
verschwand in 750 m H6hf in der Wolkendecke
Zehn.weitere Muse ii n st*Rteten ohna Sttirung
- unbemonnt. Ic i outs'.'"` ' of if fQbwurde
festgaste ft,` tai t#l ~JtcN1gR C}twindig
keit nicf pdsre)jtht,,' equichIdgen zur
FlugboFtthfsorretctttr isi' $t.uerdrOdte zu er-
holten. Die Abh (i4vor t db `l ear witksom
molt vpf{Sngertst` _ Ater *ud ,f chen
Yur Rumpfmitfit ISin`' {lia3tutt 41 tleitw*i 'durch
vino Ube(setzung durch Stotistangen) und here
st,gte unmittetbar v+pr der MOndung des Stroh
4-ohrV3 kleine Ruderfachen. for die Dauer vc
30Sakundan konnte tty ,tieslut;ch aufgespfohtes
Wasser kuhlen, dorin v6bronnten sie. Nach d-e
srr Z+tit holt9 di4 ` 11~gscFFiAa erne ousreicherrde
Gosahwindigkett for wir name Rud rousschtdge
dafgenommeq. Die Erprobung urtbemannter Ge
rote fuhrte his xuF bN_ oi-3Q(tQ1t11rleter und
entsnracf+ tint IM' u w. fiat rwrha. Lediatich
DER LETZTE VERSUCH IM KAMPF
GEGEN DIE VIERMOTS
pproved For Release 2003/11/25: CIA-RDP75B00285ROds L00~20
w1.
.'?1Rr.' K~ytl .7i ate?^"RT44