FIRST MANNED ROCKET LAUNCH - THEN AND NOW

FIRST MANNED ROCKET LAUNCH: THEN AND NOW.

by Jean Paul Pallud.

The author originally wrote this story for the 'After The Battle' magazine series. Now it has been updated for this new book with almost 100 additional photos.

Ask me what 'Natter' was in WWII and I wouldn't have known. Nor would I have guessed correctly the decade of the first vertical manned rocket launch.

On March 1st 1945 pilot Lothar Sieber climbed aboard prototype M23. Despite just a few tests with dummy pilots, the SS had pressured the engineers into launching that day. In less than a minute of flight a huge explosion was heard and Lothar Sieber was killed.

The idea behind this piloted rocket was extraordinary, even comparing it to many of the German's late-war ideas. 

This rocket would launch and climb to a predetermined height under an autopilot. This height would hope to match that of the Allied bombers it was sent to attack. The human pilot would then take control. He would have just one chance to fire all 24 unguided rockets aboard, into the bombers stream. Quickly then out of fuel, he would guide 'Natter' to a lower height before leaving the craft and parachuting back to the ground.

An incredible idea that was incredibly flawed.

The 'ATB' and Then and Now series are renowned for their photographs. In this excellent little book the fabulous photographs and graphics help to both reveal how the rocket was developed, what it looked like and how it worked.

Even after the death of Sieber trials continued. Eventually what wasn't soon destroyed would fall into American hands. As the author goes on to explain, it seems the story of the work carried out by these German engineers didn't end there.

This is a fascinating story from the final months of the war which has now been updated into this high quality publication. 

The hardback book is available now and published by After The Battle, an imprint of Pen & Sword Books. 

I thank P&S for this review copy.