Walther Johannes Riedel Explained

Walther Johannes Riedel (January 23, 1903 - November 16, 1974) was a rocket engineer who worked on the German V-2 and Wasserfall rockets before later working for North American Aviation.

Career

In 1929, Riedel graduated from the Technische Hochschule in Berlin (now Technische Universität Berlin); From 1936 to 1946, he directed development of liquid-fueled rockets at Peenemünde.^{[1] [2]} In 1942, Reidell was chief of design on the V-2.^[3]

During the US occupation of Germany, Riedel was arrested and jailed.^[4] German rocket scientists including Riedel were sent to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip.^[5] In 1946, he was profiled for cooperating with authorities at Fort Bliss, Texas.^[6] One article featured Riedel's complaints that American food was tasteless compared to that of his native Germany.^{[7] [8]} On December 30, Albert Einstein and the American Federation of Scientists authored a letter in protest.^[8] Riedel was employed by North American Aviation which sought to recreate and improve upon the V-2.^[9]

In 1949, the United Press quoted Riedel's prediction of space ships in 25 years.^[10] He was against profiled in 1949 for his work at North American Aviation's plant in Downey, California.^{[11] [12]} Letters to the editor featured a complaint about the piece's positive treatment of Riedel.^{[13] [8]}

In 1953, he was denounced by fellow NAA employee Victor Black, leading to an interview with the CIA.^[14]

He returned to West Germany and died in Hamburg in 1974.^[15]

Notes and References

1. News: Rotarians Will Hear Walther Riedel, German Technician. The Southwest Wave . April 15, 1948. 23. newspapers.com.
2. Book: Brown, Brian. Someone Is Out to Get Us: A Not So Brief History of Cold War Paranoia and Madness. November 5, 2019. Grand Central Publishing. 978-1-5387-0023-5 . Google Books.
3. Book: Neufeld, Michael. Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War. April 12, 2017. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. 978-0-525-43591-4 . Google Books.
4. Book: Jacobsen, Annie. Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America. February 11, 2014. Little, Brown. 978-0-316-22105-4 . Google Books.
5. Web site: The Golden Age of Aerospace. April 4, 2023.
6. News: Article clipped from El Paso Herald-Post. El Paso Herald-Post . December 5, 1946. 1. newspapers.com.
7. News: American Cooking 'Tasteless,' Says German Rocket Scientist; Dislikes 'Rubberized Chicken'. El Paso Herald-Post . December 6, 1946. 1. newspapers.com.
8. Book: Brzezinski, Matthew. Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Hidden Rivalries that Ignited the Space Age. September 18, 2007. Macmillan. 978-0-8050-8147-3 . Google Books.
9. Web site: ch1. www.hq.nasa.gov.
10. News: Space Ship Seen as Possible But Not in the Near Future. The Sentinel . April 20, 1949. 18. newspapers.com.
11. News: Designer of German V-2 Now Works to Aid US. The Los Angeles Times . March 13, 1949. 33. newspapers.com.
12. News: V-2 Designer Helping U.S.. The Terre Haute Tribune . March 24, 1949. 28. newspapers.com.
13. News: Achievement in Woe. The Los Angeles Times . March 17, 1949. 32. newspapers.com.
14. Book: Moseley, James W.. Shockingly Close to the Truth!: Confessions of a Grave-Robbing Ufologist. November 2, 2010. Prometheus Books. 978-1-61592-541-4 . Google Books.
15. Web site: Riedel, Walther. www.astronautix.com.