The Only Flight of the German Kamikaze - The Bachem Ba 349

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During the summer of 1944, Germany urgently needed a solution to fight off the constant Allied bombing wrecking its cities, at least a temporary one.

With insufficient fighter power available to take-out the bombers before they struck, the Luftwaffe plotted to develop a piloted rocket interceptor.

The Bachem Ba 349 was a risky and low-cost concept. The interceptor would launch in a vertical position, and the pilot would guide it straight into the enemy's bombers. Then the pilot would eject while the rest of the interceptor crashed into the ground. This aircraft was so unsafe that it's often been dubbed a German kamikaze.

Furthermore, the plane was built in meager factories by unskilled workers, with nothing more than wood, nails, and glue.

The Natter never joined the war, which ended before it could be fully developed. However, the remaining prototypes are exhibited as a reminder of German engineers' recklessness and desperation during the final days of World War II.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -