A total of 10 500 missiles were launched as part of the V1 attack of which 3 957 were destroyed by the defences. Indeed it could have been much worse for by the end of the war the Germans had manufactured close to 32 000 flying bombs. The defences put forward to guard against the V1 were formidable
- 23 000 men & women with their guns radar & communications networks were installed on coastal sites. Squadrons of Britains newest Spitfires the F XIVs & Hawker Tempest Vs were kept at home to battle the new menace. Rushed into action in July 1944 to help counter the V1 threat Britains Gloster Meteor I was the first jet fighter to enter RAF service. On 4 August the Meteor scored its first V1 victory. Having just closed in on a flying bomb its officer squeezed the trigger but his guns jammed. Using the Meteors superior speed he was able to overtake the missile & using his wing tip he tipped the craft over & sent it crashing into the ground. The interceptions between the V1 & Britains Gloster Meteor were historic & ushered in a new era of aerial combat.