their original livery, this footage (often used for documentaries) has been mistaken for footage of wartime German launches. Launches According to the Report on Operation Backfire, there were three Cuxhaven launches. Backfire Rocket One was prepared for launch on 1 October 1945, but did not function. Backfire Rocket Two was prepared for launch on 2 October 1945 and was launched without difficulty. The second Cuxhaven launch took place on 4 October 1945 with Backfire Rocket One. A third and final rocket was launched for representatives of the press and Allies on 15 October 1945 under the name Operation Clitterhouse. According to one site, there was a fourth launch on 17 October 1945 that reached an altitude of about . Aftermath During and after the launches, the British attempted to recruit German personnel, even those transferred from US custody and due to be returned, to assist with their own missile programme. The technical aspects of the operation were detailed in a five-volume report. At the site of the former launchpad there is a trough and some remnants of shelters. See also Arthur Rudolph Operation Paperclip Remnants of launchpads in Germany Rocket experiments in the area of Cuxhaven References External links Die vergessenen Raketenexperimente von Cuxhaven (The forgotten rocket experiments of Cuxhaven) V2ROCKET.COM - The A-4/V-2 Resource Site - The V-2 Rocket World War II guided missiles of Germany Non-combat military operations involving the United Kingdom Intelligence of World War II Intelligence operations Research and development in Nazi Germany