Help on V2 Photos

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by jeffbubble, Sep 25, 2017.

  1. jeffbubble

    jeffbubble Senior Member

  2. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    I would think that these photographs were taken in Holland by British troops after the surrender of German forces.

    The V2 rocket shown here is the mobile type which became a particular problem for Allied aerial intelligence in Holland to pinpoint them.As it was they were extremely mobile and could be moved as the battlefield situation demanded which enabled the Germans to fire them until late March 1945.Secluded sites such as forests were the ideal areas for mobile missile launching.These sites could be evacuated after a series of firings and the mobile V2 launch unit moved to another site.

    Static sites could be bombed if they could be located.One action to negate the German ability to wage war by rocket was the decision taken by the Allied air command to identify the supply component chain such as liquid oxygen manufacturing centres and eliminate these.

    The last photograph appears to show a permanent building which looks to have a shuttered air intake...never seen such a construction associated with a static V2 launch installation but it could be control centre/shelter of some description.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2017
    CL1 and Tricky Dicky like this.
  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Owen, jeffbubble and Tricky Dicky like this.
  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Guy Hudson, Smudger Jnr, Owen and 3 others like this.
  5. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    It looks like the photographs presented are related to Operation Backfire backed up by a very informative article on Backfire.
     
    jeffbubble likes this.
  6. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    V2 on display in Adelaide, South Australia in February 1948 after arriving from the Westcott facility in the UK following Operation Backfire
     

    Attached Files:

    • P1.jpg
      P1.jpg
      File size:
      102.9 KB
      Views:
      1
    • P2.jpg
      P2.jpg
      File size:
      97.3 KB
      Views:
      2
    • P3.jpg
      P3.jpg
      File size:
      94 KB
      Views:
      1
    • P4.jpg
      P4.jpg
      File size:
      83.6 KB
      Views:
      1
    • P5.jpg
      P5.jpg
      File size:
      95.2 KB
      Views:
      1
    • P6.jpg
      P6.jpg
      File size:
      103.4 KB
      Views:
      1
  7. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Same V2 (probably) on display around Adelaide in the 1950s
     

    Attached Files:

    • P1.jpg
      P1.jpg
      File size:
      157.4 KB
      Views:
      4
    • P2.jpg
      P2.jpg
      File size:
      141.9 KB
      Views:
      5
    • P3.jpg
      P3.jpg
      File size:
      196.2 KB
      Views:
      3
    • P4.jpg
      P4.jpg
      File size:
      46.9 KB
      Views:
      3
    • P5.jpg
      P5.jpg
      File size:
      151.5 KB
      Views:
      3
    • P6.jpg
      P6.jpg
      File size:
      36.4 KB
      Views:
      3
  8. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    I think we can all guess what the chap in photo 2 was doing, but is that the result in photo 3 - all his own "work" or have the others contributed? Should have joined the "Pee on 'ere" Corps!
     
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

  10. jeffbubble

    jeffbubble Senior Member

    Thanks for all that Contributed, the Gentleman had been given some photos on the eve of his Mother entering a home. As usual his Father never mentioned WW2. only that he had been in the RE. He is very happy to know that his Dad might have been part of Backfire, and thanks you all for your expertise!
     
  11. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    It does seem sad that Dad's never talked to their children much about "their" War.
    All I knew of my father's service during his lifetime was when he had an old service pal round for drinks and after a few stories would come out but always humour, sometimes black, but mostly against himself; how whenever he was promoted he would go out on a bender and be busted back down again, or being taught to drive and "hitting the only tree in the desert".
    I did know he'd had ear damage at Anzio from Anzio Annie but that's about all.

    When I applied for his Service Records, much more was revealed. He wasn't a hero, as RAMC I didn't expect that, but "he did his bit".
    Always said that the Army was his salvation, out of Liverpool slums and potential life of crime (well, nicking things to help the family stay alive) and into a life that suited him.
    One thing he did instil in me was that "do better than me, that's all I ask". ... and I think I did.
     
    Smudger Jnr likes this.

Share This Page