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Milford, Illinois: Nazi Buzz Bomb

A Nazi buzz bomb is a rare item, and so rare as an outdoor war memorial that Milford's was stolen and ended up in Texas. But Milford got it back.

Address:
Chicago St., Milford, IL
Directions:
In a park on Hwy 1/Chicago St., just south of downtown, near the school.
Admission:
Free.
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Buzz Bomb

You might be wondering why this German rocket isn't painted in German WWII colors? It's because this is actually a U.S. Army prototype of a German V-1 pulse engine unmanned flying bomb, nicknamed a "Buzz Bomb" by the British and the "Doodlebug" by U.S. pilots. Made from scavenged parts found in England. The U.S. designation was the " JB-2 Loon," hence the red/white color scheme. They were being tested as a possible weapon against Japan before the war ended.

[Russ B., 05/26/2012]

If true, then Milford's war trophy really is rare, as there are reportedly far fewer surviving Loons than V-1s.

Milford's Buzz Bomb.

Nazi Buzz Bomb

This World War II German V-1 buzz bomb was given to the local Legion as a war memorial after World War Two. According to a history of Milford, the Legion members showed up at Chanute Air Base in Rantoul to pick up a war memorial and were offered a bomber. Saying it was too big, they were directed to the V-1, which was hauled back to town. It sat on the school grounds on Route 1 for years, painted in US colors. In the 1970s, someone saying he was from Wright Patterson Air Force Base showed up, claimed he was there to get the thing restored, and took it away. When townspeople checked up, they found there was no record of this guy or their Buzz Bomb at Wright Patterson. It turned up at a private museum in Harlingen, Texas, and was retrieved.

[Kevin R. Young, 08/14/2004]
Buzz Bomb

An original buzz bomb captured by the usa in WWII. I cant remember if it is a v1 or v2.

[jeff eighner, 12/18/2002]

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In the region:
Gemini Giant: Space Age Muffler Man, Wilmington, IL - 53 mi.

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