Unusual W.W.II. Trench Art V.1. "Flying Bomb" Table/Pocket Lighter. c.1944
SOLD
Unusual W.W.II. period brass and bronze trench art petrol lighter in the form of a German V-1 bomb. Dating from around 1944.
This lighter has a brass body and is mounted on a bronze base. The cap on end of the engine doubles as a cover for the flint wheel and filling cap. The whole engine section of the rocket can be removed from the main body to allow it to be used as a pocket lighter. Overall height : 195mm. Good condition (nice aged patina to brass).
Trench art items such as this example were manufactured using brass from spent artillery shell cases. They were either made by soldiers or more commonly by locals who would then sell them to the troops as souvenirs.
The V.1. "flying bomb" was developed by German scientists at the Peenemünde research facility under the direction of the famous Wernher von Braun (later designer of the Saturn V rocket). These bombs were flown towards London during the latter part of W.W.II., the first was launched on June 13, 1944. Over an eighty day period more than 600 people were killed as by these bombs and over 17,000 injured. They were regularly pursued and shot down by Royal Air Force fighters. After some time it was discovered that the most effective method of bringing down V.1.'s was by flying alongside and then gently tipping the bomb's wing with the wing-tip of the intercepting fighter, this would cause the V.1.'s gyroscopic balance system to malfunction sending the bomb crashing to the ground.
For more info. on the V.1., please click on the link below :
Inventory No. A-41
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