V1 rocket in flight, over a house in London, UK, in 1944 during the Second World War (1939-1945). The silhouette of the V1 rocket is at upper right, with its glider shape clearly seen. These rockets, and the later V2 rockets, were developed and used by Nazi Germany to bomb the south-east of the UK in the later stages of the war. Unlike the silent and more powerful V2 rocket, the V1 rocket (also called the doodlebug due to the sound of its engine) could be heard as it glided to its target. When the engine cut out, the rocket fell to the ground and exploded. The first V1 rocket hit London on 13 June 1944. Around 2400 hit London in total over the next three months, killing over 6000 people. This photograph is from the archives of the New York Times.