Exploitation of Nazi Aerospace Technology by Britain
A friend of mine is writing a paper on the post-war exploitation of captured German technologies by the UK. Principally, he is looking at aircraft and powerplant designs and related weapons systems. He's looked up the usual sources (TNA, IWM) and spent a bit of time at AHB looking at Air Ministry Intelligence Summaries, but seems to be drawing a blank between the reporting of these technologies and them being adopted/developed/applied by the British aircraft industry.
It was quite clear that the US Government actively exploited aviation and missile technologies under programmes such as Op LUSTY and OP PAPERCLIP, but very little evidence of the same happening this side of the pond. Interestingly, the British Army captured a number of V2 (A4) missiles, complete with all the support vehicles and launch crews near Cuxhaven. In 1946, under OP BACKFIRE several of these were fired and appeared to operate sucessfully. But that was it. No British Ballistic Missile Programme - at least not for another 10-15 years, by which time it was too late for the UK to catch up. Perhaps the dire fiscal situation and lack of overseas funds after the war prevented greater exploitation and development?
Can any PPruners give him a steer on any good books? For example, was the crescent wing of the V-bomber inspired by German developments?
I've done a little bit of research into this - but teh internet is useless - all full of wierd (and anti-Semetic) conspiracy theories about NAZI UFOs etc.
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 22nd Jan 2013 at 11:29.