Just Finished Reading: Operation Crossbow – The Untold Story of the Search for Hitler’s Secret Weapons by Allan Williams (FP: 2014) [394pp] 

Rumours, that’s all they had really. Whispers from spies, supposed ‘leaks’ from inside Occupied Europe and hints from German propaganda broadcasts about secret war winning weapons. British Intelligence were not impressed but some of Churchill’s scientific advisors thought there was enough substance in the reports to give them credence, but more was needed before any response could be thought of. They needed proof. Slowly, over weeks and months, the proof arrived. A crashed ‘aircraft’ in Scandinavia was nothing of the sort and both photographs and parts were shipped to Britain for analysis. High level photo-reconnaissance of unusual structures on the Baltic coast stirred interest and alarm and more flights were requested. But confusion still reigned. Some in the scientific staff thought the much talked about ‘rockets’ to be practically and even theoretically impossible. Others couldn’t understand mixed reports of huge missiles and remotely guided unmanned jet planes. Only when they started to receive details accounts of odd structures on the French coast seemingly pointing at Britain did everything start to fall into place. Confirmed by low flying photo recon flights this ski-shaped buildings seemed to be designed to aim missiles at a number of places in South-East England including London. Further examination of photographs already taken of the French coast in anticipation of D-Day revealed dozens of such sites with the potential of launching thousands of missiles at England. With Operation Overlord planning in the final stages and resources tight calls for more reconnaissance and an immediate bombing campaign to destroy the launch sites sat unactioned or delayed. Then, on 13th June 1944, the first of the V-1 flying bombs made its way to its target in London and everything changed. 

This is, primarily, the story of photo-reconnaissance undertaken by Allied pilots, mostly British at first but with an increasing number of Americans as the war progressed, looking for V-1 and later V-2 rocket sites in order that they could be eliminated either by being overrun by the Allied advance through France and the Low Countries or bombed into rubble by RAF or USAAF bombers. But a significant portion of the narrative also looked at the vital work of spies, including French Resistance operatives, and ‘whistleblowers’ in German run factories building some of the weapons or parts of them. Put together with the seemingly never ending and extremely demanding work of photographic interpreters this allowed the Allies to at least great inhibit the V programs and their ultimate launch schedules. One of the things that impressed me, and something I had read about elsewhere, was the fact that at best the British managed to shoot down around 85% of all V-1s launched and that, on average, the casualty rate from V-1 strikes was one dead and three injured per impact. Both the V-1 and V-2, though deadly in their own ways, were huge vanity projects which took away vital resources from other areas and probably contributed to the ultimate defeat of the Axis Powers. 

Jam packed with fascinating information and some very clever people this is a must read for anyone interested in this often-overlooked aspect of the war in Europe as well as the early years of the Cold War. I was amazed at the work undertaken, often by gifted amateurs (archaeologists and architects were particular in demand), to locate and plan the destruction of this new type of weapon. I wasn’t aware of the numbers involved or how these largely unsung heroes made such a difference to the war effort. Definitely recommended.