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Operation Aphrodite

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Operation Aphrodite was the code name of a secret program initiated by the United States Army Air Forces during the latter part of World War II. The United States Eighth Air Force used 'Aphrodite' both as an experimental method of destroying V weapon production and launch facilities and as a way to dispose of B-17 and B-24 bombers (although only two B-24 were modified for the operation) that had outlived their operational usefulness.

The plan called for B-17 aircraft which had been taken out of operational service to be loaded to capacity with explosives, and flown by remote control into bomb-resistant fortifications such as German U-boat pens and V-1 missile sites.It was hoped that this would match the British success with Tallboy and Grand Slam supersonic ground penetration bombs, but it is now remembered as one of the most dangerous, expensive and unsuccessful projects ever undertaken.

Proposal

The plan was first proposed to Major General James H. Doolittle some time in 1944 (the original author and date of submission are unknown). Doolittle approved the plan on June 26, and assigned the 3rd Bombardment Division with preparing and flying the drone aircraft, which was to be designated BQ-7.[1] Final assignment of responsibility was given to the 562nd Bomb Squadron at RAF Honington in Suffolk. Similarly, on July 6, 1944, the US Navy Special Attack Unit (SAU-1) was formed under ComAirLant, with Commander James A. Smith, Officer in Charge, for transfer without delay to Commander Fleet Air Wing 7 in Europe to attack German V-1 and V-2 launching sites with PB4Y-1's converted to assault drones.[2]

Mission theory

In preparation for their final mission, several old B-17 Flying Fortress bombers were stripped of all normal combat armament and all other non-essential gear (armor, guns, bomb racks, transceiver, seats, etc.), thus relieving the bomber of about 12,000 lb of weight. The stripped aircraft were then equipped with an Azon[1] radio remote-control system and loaded with up to 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) of explosives, more than twice the normal bomb payload.

Remote control

To facilitate control of what was essentially a slow guided missile, two television cameras were fitted in the cockpit of each B-17, providing a view of both the ground and the main instrumentation panel. This view was transmitted back to an accompanying control aircraft, designated CQ17, (referred to as the 'mothership'), allowing the craft to be flown remotely.

Because the crude remote control thus created did not allow for safe takeoff from a runway, each craft was taken aloft by a volunteer crew of two (a pilot and flight engineer), who were to pilot the aircraft to an altitude of 2,000 ft.(600 m), at which point control would be transferred to the remote operators. After successful turnover of control of the drone, the two-man crew would arm the Torpex explosive payload and parachute out of the cockpit, the canopy of which was removed to speed their exit. The 'mothership' would then direct the missile locking it onto a course for the target. When the training program was complete, the 562nd Squadron had ten drones and four 'motherships'.

Missions

Aphrodite Missions
Target Date Aircraft 1 Aircraft 2
Pas-de-Calais V-1 launch site August 4, 1944 One plane lost control after the first crewman bailed out, and crashed near Orford, making a huge crater and destroying more than 2 acres (8,000 m²) of the surrounding countryside; the second crewman was killed. The view from the nose of the other drone was obscured as it came over the target, and it missed by several hundred feet.
Siracourt[3] August 4, 1944 B-17 39835: Control problems led to aircraft crashing in wood at Sudbourne, pilot killed when abandoned aircraft too soon before impact.
August tbd, 1944 In the mission's next phase, one drone was shot down by flak due to a control malfunction the other missed its target by a quarter mile (400 m)
Watten[4] August 6, 1944 crews were able to abandon the missiles without complications, a few minutes later one lost control and fell into the sea The other also lost control, but turned inland and began to circle the important industrial town Ipswich. After several minutes, it crashed harmlessly at sea.
B-17 30342 *Taint A Bird*: impacted at Gravelines, probably due to flak damage.
B-17 31394: experienced control problems and crashed into sea.
B-17 30212 *Quarterback*: experienced control problems and crashed into sea
Heligoland August tbd, 1944 After modifications to change to a different control system, the second casualty of the operation was suffered during this mission, when one pilot's parachute failed to open. The missile also failed, most likely shot down by flak before reaching the target.
Heide August tbd, 1944 Three aircraft failed to reach their target due to control malfunctions The fourth aircraft actually crashed near enough to cause significant damage and high casualties.
Mimoyecques[5] August 12, 1944 PBY4-1 32271 (ex USAAF B-24J 42-110007): The single US Navy BQ8 detonated prematurely over England, killing Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. and Lt. Wilford J. Willy[6]
Heligoland U-boat pens[7] September 3, 1944 B-17 63954: US Navy controller flew aircraft into Duene Island by mistake.
Heligoland U-boat pens[8] September 11, 1944 B-17 30180: hit by enemy flak and crashed into sea.
Hemmingstadt oil refinery[9] September 14, 1944 B-17 39827: missed target due to poor weather conditions. B-17 30363 *Ruth L III*: missed target due to poor weather conditions
Heligoland U-boat pens[10] October 15, 1944 B-17 30039 *Liberty Belle* B-17 37743
Herford marshalling yard[11] December 5, 1944 B-17 39824: target not located due to cloud cover, so directed at alternate target Haldorf. Crashed outside town. B-17 30353 *Ten Knights in the Bar Room*: target not located due to cloud so directed at Haldorf. Crashed outside of town.
Oldenburg power station[12] January 1, 1945 B-17 30178 *Darlin' Dolly*: shot down by flak before reaching target. B-17 30237 *Stump Jumper*: shot down by flak before reaching target.

Conclusions

Concluding that the BQ-7 was not successful against the 'hard targets' it had been designed for, United States Strategic Air Forces Headquarters ordered that it be sent against industrial targets instead. Two more missions were flown, and both were failures as well. Bad weather and control problems caused misses. The only drone that actually hit the target didn't explode, supplying the Germans with an intact B-17 and a set of radio controls.

After the last mission, the Strategic Air Forces decided that the concept behind Operation Aphrodite was unfeasible, and scrapped the effort. In the course of the operation, only one drone had done any damage, and none had hit their targets. The failure of the program was attributed to the lack of suitable implementations of available technology. One contributing factor to the difficulties may well have been the changed flight characteristics due to the different weight distribution of the 'Aphrodite-equipped' craft versus un-modified aircraft.

See also

References and Notes

  1. ^ "BQ-7". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  2. ^ "WORLD WAR II 1940-1945". Naval Aviation Chronology in World War II. Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  3. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-39758 to 42-50026)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  4. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  5. ^ "US Navy and US Marine Corps Bureau Numbers, Third Series (30147 to 39998)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  6. ^ "Lt. Joe Kennedy". Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  7. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-57213 to 42-70685)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  8. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  9. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-39758 to 42-50026)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  10. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  11. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-39758 to 42-50026)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  12. ^ "1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757)". Encyclopedia of American Aircraft. Joseph F. Baugher. Retrieved 2007-04-10.

Further Reading

  • Jablonski, Edward (1965). Flying Fortress. Doubleday.
  • Olsen, Jack (1970). Aphrodite: Desperate Mission. Putnam's Sons.
  • Gray, Edwin (1996). Operation Aphrodite's B-17 "Smart Bomb". Aviation History.
  • Werrell, Kenneth P. The Evolution of the Cruise Missile (see p.43)
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