Walter Riedel

Walter Riedel (1902-1968) was a German rocket engineer best-known for his pioneering work on the V-2 rocket.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and career

Riedel's first place of employment was the Heylandt Company. In 1931, he collaborated with Arthur Riedel to build a 20 kgf liquid propellant engine. Later he joined the development team that worked on the German V-2 rocket at Peenemünde, serving as Wernher von Braun's deputy and chief designer with the Technical Design Office.^[1]

[edit] Post World War II

Following World War II he was moved to Trauen where he joined the British Saenger facility and worked on rocket engine tests.^[2] Walter Riedel became director of rocket engine research at North American Aviation Corporation (NAA).^[3]

[edit] UFO Investigations

Riedel also organized civilian investigations of UFOs with the group Civilian Saucer Investigations (CSI), which included several other NAA personnel in its ranks.^[4] In a 1952 interview with Life magazine, Riedel was quoted^[5] as saying "I am completely convinced that [flying saucers] have an out-of-world basis." U.S. Air Force Captain Edward J. Ruppelt^[6] described CSI as "a well-meaning but Don Quixote-type group of individuals."

Riedel crater on the Moon was co-named for him and the German rocket pioneer Klaus Riedel.

[edit] References

1. ^ Kraemer, Robert S. (2005). Rocketdyne: Powering Humans Into Space. North American Rockwell Corporation, p. 10. ISBN 1563477548. 
2. ^ Wade, Mark (2007). "Riedel Walter". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved on 2006-08-10.
3. ^ Frederick I. Ordway et al (2007). "A memoir: From peenemünde to USA: A classic case of technology transfer". Acta Astronautica 60 (1): 24–47. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2006.05.003. 
4. ^ Pryor, Ruby C. (January 1, 2007). "Meeting Minutes, Civilian Saucer Investigation". Knoll Aircraft Corporation. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
5. ^ "Have We Visitors From Space?" Darrach, H. B. and Robert Ginna. Life Magazine. 07 April 1952
6. ^ Rupplet, Edward J. The Report On Unidentified Flying Objects. New York: Doubleday, 1956

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