Reading the Osprey book on the V-1, "V-1 Flying Bomb 1942-52: Hitler's Infamous 'Doodlebug" by Steven J. Zaloga, gives some information on V-1 development. Argus began testing its Argus-Schmidt pulse jet in January 1941 and it flew in April 1941. However, Argus had no airframe designer and there was limited official interest. Robert Lusser of Fieseler visited Argus on February 27th 1942 and started to design the Fi-103 (FZG-76, V-1) which was first flown in a powered test on 10th December 1942 (all from pages 4-6). The next year and a half were spent solving all the many problems, especially of the guidance system, the fuel system, the catapult as well as the general problem of building an airframe that could survive the vibrations from the pulse jet. Preparing mass production, the launch sites and training of the launch crews also took time, especially as the British began a bombing campaign to slow down production and deployment. However, the cost of the V-1 was kept down to only RM 5,060, which was 2% of the cost of a bomber.
So what if Goering had liked the initial idea in early 1941 and had given the project the highest priority? It seems plausible that the V-1 could have deployed 18 months earlier than in our history, especially as British intelligence and bombing would have been less effective, with the first missiles fired towards London in January 1943. RAF fighters were slower in 1943 than 1944, there were few proximity fused AA shells and AA-guns were less effectively controlled. In principle, we could have an earlier POD and deploy the V-1 in 1942 (when it might not be called V-1). Then counter measures would have been even less effective and German aerial reconnaissance could have corrected ranging errors.
Would 1943 or even 1942 V-1s have destroyed British morale and won the war for Germany? Certainly not! However, as well as distracting British bombing from the Ruhr, I feel sure that this would have reversed British policy on the priorities of France versus Italy. As the USA was already in favour, France will be invaded in 1943 for good or ill.
So what if Goering had liked the initial idea in early 1941 and had given the project the highest priority? It seems plausible that the V-1 could have deployed 18 months earlier than in our history, especially as British intelligence and bombing would have been less effective, with the first missiles fired towards London in January 1943. RAF fighters were slower in 1943 than 1944, there were few proximity fused AA shells and AA-guns were less effectively controlled. In principle, we could have an earlier POD and deploy the V-1 in 1942 (when it might not be called V-1). Then counter measures would have been even less effective and German aerial reconnaissance could have corrected ranging errors.
Would 1943 or even 1942 V-1s have destroyed British morale and won the war for Germany? Certainly not! However, as well as distracting British bombing from the Ruhr, I feel sure that this would have reversed British policy on the priorities of France versus Italy. As the USA was already in favour, France will be invaded in 1943 for good or ill.