World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Luftfahrtforschungsanstalt ("Aeronautical Research Institute"), or LFA for short, was also unofficially known as the "Hermann Göring Research Institute". Construction began in Oct 1935 on an 1,000-acre site in Völkenrode near Braunschweig, Germany with the goal of establishing a facility to test airframes, aircraft engines, and aerial weapons. The site would ultimate consist of 60 camouflaged buildings, none of which were taller than surrounding trees. Furthermore, there were no railroad tracks nor above-ground power lines leading into the site, and the site was purposefully void of runways. The site would successfully avoid Allied detection for the duration of the war. The site employed about 1,500 people in various roles. Administration of the site was divided between the Institute of Aerodynamics, the Institute of Gas Dynamics, the Institute of Strength Properties, the Institute of Engine Research, and the Institute of Kinematics. The first wind tunnel began operation in 1939. One of the most notable advancements tested at this site was the As 014 pulse jet, which powered V-1 flying bombs. After the war, it resumed work in the same capacity, although under civilian control, in Aug 1953. Today the site formerly belonging to the LFA hosts the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (the national metrology institute) and buildings of the defunct Federal Agricultural Research Center.

Luftfahrtforschungsanstalt Interactive Map

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