Project Aphrodite
With test flights in the cockpit an Ascension Day Command
After their re-equipment the machines were transferred after Bovington, where on 1 July 1944 under strictest secrecy the re-education began. The crews received 25 flying hours training as well as an intensive training in a goal and navigation. The AZON steering element seemed to work contently placing, whereby the flight stability of the remote-controlled bomber seemed to form the only larger problem. With all temptation flights, also with such with radio telecontrol, a pilot always was in the cockpit of the bomber remote-controlled as a Baby designated for safety reasons.
The building of the large V-weapon positions in Pas de Calais gave cause to increasing concern and the demands after fastest possible beginning of the employments became ever louder. The RAF was correct the use the extra is enough for runway in Woodbridge than starting point too. Thereupon the commander of the Aphrodite unit shifted, Lt.Col. James Turner, with 10 B-17 "Babies", a B-17 and three Consolidated B-24 Liberator leading-airplane for the remote steering element and observation as well as eight P-47 Thunderbolt on 7 July, turned off of a Fighter Group as escort, to Woodbridge.
Nine of the remote-controlled bombers received a charge from 20.000 lbs (9,072 kg) to TNT, which tenth the same quantity of gasoline gel (napalm). The loaded machines were distributed turned off between the trees, which caused uneasiness with the personnel of the place, since this damages returning machines further as emergency landing field for out employments served. Many of these "invalids" went with the landing out of control and the conception one of it could one loaded Aphrodite airplanes ram, were frightening.
Because of the limited radio frequencies only two "Babies" could be started at the same time. Planned two groups of employments were, in each case consisting of two guidance airplanes and a remote-controlled bomber. The "Babies" should start conventionally and fly an intended distance, while that could be examined the remote control and the crew had opportunity to to jump off with the parachute.
After the leading airplanes had steered their two "Babies" in the target, they should fly back to their output place, take over there two further in the meantime started "Babies" and in the same way into the indicated target to steer. The bomber loaded with the gasoline gel should be held in readiness, in order to be able to switch a met goal off completely.
Airfield change for secrecy reasons
Basic requirement for each Aphrodite employment formed however clear weather. But in the days after the arrival favorable weather prevailed to the Aphrodite unit in the intended target areas at no time.
In the meantime the Aphrodite unit for reasons of the secrecy had been decided on a more remote place to shift after Fersfield. Fersfield was for bombers of the 8. US Air Fleet built place, which had been used however up to then still by no employment unit. The decision fell on 12 July and already three days later began the shifting of the Aphrodite unit from Woodbridge to Fersfield.
Fersfield was led as branch office the close convenient 388th Bomb Group. The ground personnel of the 560th Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, shifted as service unit in August from Knettishall to Fersfield and their squadron commander, Lt.Col. Roy Forrest, became a commander of the place. The B-17 of the 560th BS in Knettishall took part however with support of the ground personnel of the three other relays of the 388th BG further in regular missions.
Under the units shifted after Fersfield likewise interested in the co-operation in the Aphrodite project was also the Special Air Unit No. 1 (SAU-1) of the U. S. Navy with Voluntary of the antisubmarine chase squadron from Dunkeswell in southwest England. The US Navy had considered already a similar project for the Pacific area, should with radio-controlled drones from carriers for one-way employments have been used and wanted in this first US enterprise in things robot war guidance have been involved. Their work in Fersfield ran under the pseudonym "Anvil".
In order to complicate the thing further, also still one was briefly before shifted from Wright Field, the USA, in Great Britain special-purpose force arrived, which wanted to accomplish "Batty" of temptation employments with TV guided bombs under the code name, to Fersfield.