page_title: Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg
section_title: Test flights
hierarchical_section_title: Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg / Operational history / Test flights
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Neu Tramm, US-Soldaten mit V1 Last ditch weapons continued [Neu Tramm.- Amerikanische Soldaten mit erbeuteter pilotengesteuerter Bombe V-1 "Reichenberg-Gerät", ca. April 1945]
context_page_description: The Fieseler Fi 103R, code-named Reichenberg, was a late-World War II German crewed version of the V-1 flying bomb produced for attacks in which the pilot was likely to be killed or at best to parachute down at the attack site, which were to be carried out by the "Leonidas Squadron", V. Gruppe of the Luftwaffe's Kampfgeschwader 200.
context_section_description: The first real flight was performed in September 1944 at the Erprobungsstelle Rechlin, the Reichenberg being dropped from a Heinkel He 111. However, it subsequently crashed after the pilot lost control when he accidentally jettisoned the canopy. A second flight the next day also ended in a crash and subsequent test flights were carried out by test pilots Heinz Kensche and Hanna Reitsch. Reitsch herself experienced several crashes, which she survived unscathed. On 5 November 1944 during the second test flight of the R-III, a wing fell off due to vibrations and Heinz Kensche managed to parachute to safety, albeit with some difficulty due to the cramped cockpit.
caption: US troops inspect Fieseler Fi 103R at Neu Tramm 1945
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