Major-General Dr. Walter Robert Dornberger (September 6, 1895 – June 26, 1980) was a German Army officer who worked as an artillery expert during World War I and World War II. He led Nazi Germany’s V-2 rocket program and other projects at the Peenemünde Army Research Centre.
Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (US: /ˈvɜːr nər vɒn ˈbraʊn/; German: [ˈvɛʁnheːɐ̯ fɔn ˈbʁaʊn]; 23 March 1912 – 16 June 1977) was a German American engineer who designed spaceships and rockets. He joined the Nazi Party and the Allgemeine SS to support his work on rockets. He led rocket development in Nazi Germany and later helped create rocket and space technology in the United States.
Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (US: /ˈvɜːr nər vɒn ˈbraʊn/ VUR-nər von BROWN; German: [ˈvɛʁnheːɐ̯ fɔn ˈbʁaʊn]; 23 March 1912 – 16 June 1977) was a German American engineer who worked with rockets and spaceships. He joined the Nazi Party and the Allgemeine SS to support his rocket research. He led rocket development in Nazi Germany and later helped create rocket and space technology in the United States.
Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain (14 December 1911 – 13 March 1998) was a German physicist, engineer, and the designer of the first aircraft to use a turbojet engine. He worked with Frank Whittle and Anselm Franz. These three men are often called co-inventors of the turbojet engine.
Kurt Waldemar Tank was born on February 24, 1898, and died on June 5, 1983. He was a German aircraft engineer and test pilot who worked at Focke-Wulf from 1931 to 1945. During this time, he was in charge of the design department and created several important aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.
Wilhelm Emil “Willy” Messerschmitt (German pronunciation: [ˈmɛsɐʃmɪt]; 26 June 1898 – 15 September 1978) was a German engineer who designed many important planes for the Luftwaffe and for commercial use. In the early 1920s, Messerschmitt created successful motor gliders and airliners. However, the BFW M.20 caused problems for him, leading to financial trouble for his company and anger from Erhard Milch, who later became the head of the Reich Aviation Ministry.
Dr. Ernst Heinkel was born on January 24, 1888, and died on January 30, 1958. He was a German aircraft designer and manufacturer.
Claude (Claudius) Honoré Désiré Dornier (May 14, 1884 – December 5, 1969) was a French and German airplane designer who started the company Dornier GmbH. He is known for creating the Dornier Do X flying boat, which had 12 engines and was the largest and most powerful airplane in the world for many years. He also designed other successful aircraft.
Hugo Junkers was born on February 3, 1859, and died on February 3, 1935. He was a German engineer and designer who helped create the first airplanes made entirely of metal and flying wings. His company, Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG, played an important role in Germany’s aircraft industry between World War I and World War II.
Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal (German pronunciation: [ˈkaʁl ˈvɪlhɛlm ˈʔɔto ˈliːliəntaːl]; May 23, 1848 – August 10, 1896) was a German pioneer in aviation known as the “flying man.” He was the first person to make carefully recorded, repeated, successful flights using gliders, proving that heavier-than-air aircraft could work. Newspapers and magazines shared pictures of Lilienthal flying, which helped people believe that flying machines could become practical. Lilienthal’s work helped create the design of the modern airplane wing.