DS in German, signed by Wernher von Braun, “v. Braun,” nine pages, 8.25 x 11.75, February 5, 1943. Complete original launch report of a German V-2 (A4) rocket, stamped as top secret ("Geheime Kommandosache"), signed on the third page in blue indelible pencil by Wernher von Braun. The report provides flight results, tracking charts, and two original glossy photos of the launch at the Peenemünde Army Research Center.
Headed "Preliminary launch report A4 - V11," indicating the eleventh launch of rocket Aggregat 4 (A4, the technical name of the V-2), the report provides various technical details of the rocket: "Aggregat: Aggregat A4, V11 with industrial guidance II, Propulsion: 15atü/25, Topf Oven Nr. 58/50, Turbo pump HAP Nr. 10…Dimensons/Sizes of V11: Length: 14m, Caliber/diameter: 1.65m, Empty weight: 3940 kg, Launch weight: 12489 kg."
It goes on to offer an observational description of the flight: "Launch was on January 25th 1943, 11:02AM from launch site 2 on launch pad VII. After firing, the first and second stage were working properly, rocket launch with an acceleration of 0.9g. Flightpath: Already in the first second oscillations on the roll axis were watched…in an altitude of 930m the rocket disappeared in the clouds…End of firing was reported after 64.5 seconds at a height of 30800m. Velocity of 1012 meter per second. Impact was reported 105.1 km from launchpad. Flight time: 278 seconds. Conclusions: Pump circulation was constant, propulsion worked perfectly until end of firing."
The report concludes: "The unexpected oscillations on the roll axis were due to a failing control element. For the next launch two precautions are recommended…More powerful pump…Stronger fins…Also for future tests it is recommended to add 4 air rudders." Following the page signed by Wernher von Braun are two pages with affixed original photographs of the launch, and four pages of technical charts. In very good to fine condition, with some paper loss on the fourth page, evidently from a removed photo.
Peenemünde was the secret German rocket base run by Wernher von Braun where the V-2 was developed, produced, and tested during WWII. After the war, von Braun and a hundred of his key V-2 personnel emigrated to the United States in Operation Paperclip, where their knowledge was leveraged in the development of the Redstone missile and subsequent Saturn launch vehicles.
This document offers a remarkable historic record of an early V-2 flight, and the scheme of the report resembles that later used by Wernher von Braun and his team in evaluating the Saturn rockets. Any original document pertaining to V-2 tests at Peenemünde is exceedingly rare, and the presence of von Braun's early autograph elevates this piece to the apogee of early rocketry ephemera. The original photographs of the launch are, likewise, of the utmost historical interest.
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