WNF Feureball
In the fall of 1944 work was carried out by the SS Technical Branch on a radical disc craft. It was an unmanned interceptor VTO disc being developed by the Wiener Neustadter Flugzeugwerk (WNF) under SS control. The project was started in 1941 but was stalled by technical difficulties with both the propulsion system and the development of a primitive field weapon, an experimental electrostatic field weapon being developed at Messerschmitt's secret Oberammergau facility in Bavaria with help from the O.B.F. (Oberbayerische Forschungsanstalt).
The aeronautical establishment at Wiener Neustadt (with help from the F.F.O.) developed the first of what WNF named the "Feuerball" (Fireball) in total secrecy.
The very first primitive Feuerball weapons were simple, small silver jet-powered discs launched off catapults and remote-controlled from the ground. These were psychological test weapons to gauge the Allied bomber crews response to the strange machines that defied explanation and which could out-maneuver the Allied aircraft at will.
On a bombing mission over Stuttgart on 6th September 1943, a number of small silvery discs in a pattern 8 feet long and 4 feet wide were observed from B-17s. One supposedly hit the wing of an aircraft and observers saw the aircraft catch fire. The observers were from the 384th Bomb Group. Several German aircraft were above the formation, but no one observed them drop any objects. It was suggested that the discs were some type of incendiary material and tests were run with a number of substances. It was thought that had the enemy planes dropped the objects the pattern would be more spread out before reaching the US aircraft. The possibility that netting was used to keep the objects close together was also suggested.
The Feuerballs, which were remote-controlled upon take-off were fitted with plume sensors to detect engine exhaust that guided them to Allied bombers. A highly advanced flattened turbojet pushed the Feuerball to speeds of 500-600 mph in the interception phase of flight.
Once the target was detected the Feuerball slowed to employ Messerschmitt's electrostatic field weapon which burned high concentrations of chemicals with additives (Myrol, acetylene, vinylic ethers, and aluminum powder) to produce a fiery “halo” around the weapon as well as a high strength electrostatic field that affected the working cycles of aircraft engines and aircraft radar systems. As a direct result of contact, the bomber radar ceased to function and the pilots struggled to maintain control of the aircraft as the engine ignition systems failed. To accomplish this, the early Feuerballs had to slow to match the bombers speed and approach them often as close as 30 meters of the aircraft, right into the sights of the bomber gunners.
To improve chances of success two "other" weapons were also deployed with the Feuerballs. These were "Seifenblasen" (Soap Bubbles) which were weather balloons with a metallic coating and carrying metal strips to confuse Allied radar. When spotted in the daylight sun or moonlit night the reflecting Seifenblasen gave the appearance of a Feuerball. They were derived from the Kriegsmarine’s U-boat secret weapon “Afrodita” (Aphrodite) anti-radar balloons, used as a decoy against patrolling Allied anti-submarine aircraft.
The WNF Feuerball was the first weapon developed, initiated in 1941. It was supervised by the SS and at first consisted of small, remote-controlled silver discs that were launched by catapult into the sky operating with a small turbojet engine. These were used to test bomber crews response to the weapon- especially the gunners. WNF then built an oval-shaped machine with a flattened turbojet that was a VTO disc still under limited remote control until it approached the bombers. At that time a plume sensor helped guide the weapon onto target which were the aircraft engines and radar systems.
At a close distance the Allied radar would cease to function, but to get at the engines the Feuerballs had to approach the wings of the bombers as the chemically-induced electrostatic weapon carried had a very limited range. This weapon was developed by Messerschmitt at its secret Oberammergau facility in Bavaria. Ignition of the chemicals caused the object to burn or glow in flight, which caused the Allied crews to name the weapon “Foo Fighter”.
The aeronautical establishment at Wiener Neustadt (with help from the F.F.O.) developed the first of what WNF named the "Feuerball" (Fireball) in total secrecy.
The very first primitive Feuerball weapons were simple, small silver jet-powered discs launched off catapults and remote-controlled from the ground. These were psychological test weapons to gauge the Allied bomber crews response to the strange machines that defied explanation and which could out-maneuver the Allied aircraft at will.
On a bombing mission over Stuttgart on 6th September 1943, a number of small silvery discs in a pattern 8 feet long and 4 feet wide were observed from B-17s. One supposedly hit the wing of an aircraft and observers saw the aircraft catch fire. The observers were from the 384th Bomb Group. Several German aircraft were above the formation, but no one observed them drop any objects. It was suggested that the discs were some type of incendiary material and tests were run with a number of substances. It was thought that had the enemy planes dropped the objects the pattern would be more spread out before reaching the US aircraft. The possibility that netting was used to keep the objects close together was also suggested.
The Feuerballs, which were remote-controlled upon take-off were fitted with plume sensors to detect engine exhaust that guided them to Allied bombers. A highly advanced flattened turbojet pushed the Feuerball to speeds of 500-600 mph in the interception phase of flight.
Once the target was detected the Feuerball slowed to employ Messerschmitt's electrostatic field weapon which burned high concentrations of chemicals with additives (Myrol, acetylene, vinylic ethers, and aluminum powder) to produce a fiery “halo” around the weapon as well as a high strength electrostatic field that affected the working cycles of aircraft engines and aircraft radar systems. As a direct result of contact, the bomber radar ceased to function and the pilots struggled to maintain control of the aircraft as the engine ignition systems failed. To accomplish this, the early Feuerballs had to slow to match the bombers speed and approach them often as close as 30 meters of the aircraft, right into the sights of the bomber gunners.
To improve chances of success two "other" weapons were also deployed with the Feuerballs. These were "Seifenblasen" (Soap Bubbles) which were weather balloons with a metallic coating and carrying metal strips to confuse Allied radar. When spotted in the daylight sun or moonlit night the reflecting Seifenblasen gave the appearance of a Feuerball. They were derived from the Kriegsmarine’s U-boat secret weapon “Afrodita” (Aphrodite) anti-radar balloons, used as a decoy against patrolling Allied anti-submarine aircraft.
The WNF Feuerball was the first weapon developed, initiated in 1941. It was supervised by the SS and at first consisted of small, remote-controlled silver discs that were launched by catapult into the sky operating with a small turbojet engine. These were used to test bomber crews response to the weapon- especially the gunners. WNF then built an oval-shaped machine with a flattened turbojet that was a VTO disc still under limited remote control until it approached the bombers. At that time a plume sensor helped guide the weapon onto target which were the aircraft engines and radar systems.
At a close distance the Allied radar would cease to function, but to get at the engines the Feuerballs had to approach the wings of the bombers as the chemically-induced electrostatic weapon carried had a very limited range. This weapon was developed by Messerschmitt at its secret Oberammergau facility in Bavaria. Ignition of the chemicals caused the object to burn or glow in flight, which caused the Allied crews to name the weapon “Foo Fighter”.