V2 Rocket Timeline

The timeline for the German V2 Rocket project is as follows:

1930 - Special department created by the Germans to research Liquid fuelled rocket for military purposes, headed by Captain W. Dornberger & W. Von Braun, who went onto pioneer NASA and the moon landings.

1936 - The Peenemunde research Facility built to the north of Berlin.

1930-1942 - Research and development of A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 rockets. A4 eventually became the V2 rocket.

3rd Oct 1942 - A4 (V2) was successfully launched, paving the way for strategic military rockets and the bombardment of the UK in later years.

22nd Dec 1942 - Hitler orders Emergency construction of a V2 bunker in the Pas-De-Calais, The Eperlecques Site being chosen, and another being built at La Coupole.

Jan 1943 - Construction begins on Kraftwerk Nordwest (Eperlecques Bunker).

16th May 1943 - RAF photograph enormous trenches near Watten and thus identified the significance of the threat from the nearly completed bunker.

27th August 1943 - RAF and USAAF drop 366 2000lb bombs on the site, destroying the majority of the V2 preparation and launching sections.  The concrete that was being cast for the bunker hard not completely hardened and was destroyed beyond use.

Nov 1944 - construction restarts at the Bunker and the Todt organisation decide to continue with the Liquid oxygen producing facility, but decide that the Northern section had been completely lost.

2nd Feb - 25 Aug 1944 - 20 new air raids take place including 2 with 12000lbs 'Tallboy' bombs

Sept 1944 - Area liberated by Canadian troops and the bunker abandoned by the Germans having never become active.