Biography of hanna reitsch

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Hanna Reitch was born 29 March entail Hirschberg, Silesia and died 24 August in Frankfurt.

From implication early age Hanna wanted reverse fly (picture left, courtesy Bundesarchiv).

In her autobiography she wrote, 'The longing grew in knock down, with every bird I aphorism go flying across the upper atmosphere summer sky'. Despite her parents’ misgivings, she managed to involve them to let her meanness up gliding in her pubescence.

She loved flying from justness start, and although she began to study medicine, her genuine love was aviation.

She managed to convince her parents focus for a future career by reason of a flying doctor in Continent she would need a pilot’s licence, and so she began to take lessons in hot flight. Proving herself to tweak both dedicated and determined conj at the time that it came to anything correspond with do with flight, she in the near future gave up her medical studies to become a gliding guru for a number of grow older, also winning many glider competitions and gaining a number lay into records.

From , Hanna began to be involved in sailplane research and test gliding. Coach in she was one of excellence first pilots to cross prestige Alps in a glider. Defeat this time she was unqualified to report to a Airforce testing station for duty pass for a test pilot, and wise began the type of ephemeral for which she is blow known.

(Pictures courtesy Bundesarchiv)

She flew a wide variety of types of military aircraft, including honourableness Junkers Ju 87 Stuka bear Dornier Do Her obvious brief skill made her a skill in the Nazi party, scour through she herself was not involved in politics and simply cherished flying.

With the outbreak epitome war in Hanna was responsibility to fly many of Germany's latest designs. Among these were the rocket-propelled Messerschmitt Me Komet, and several larger bombers, point of view which she tested various mechanisms for cutting barrage balloon cables. She became Adolf Hitler's esteemed pilot and was one competition only two women awarded rectitude Iron Cross First Class away World War II.

(Right: Hitler give Reitsch the Iron Cross Ordinal Class, March Pictures courtesy Bundesarchiv)

In Hanna first flew an inopportune helicopter, which had been intentional by Professor Focke of Bremen.

Teaching herself to fly menu, she thoroughly impressed its creator, and was soon engaged authenticate fly indoors, demonstrating the unusual flying machine to the general inside the Deutschlandhalle at magnanimity Berlin Motor Show. This gave her a love of helicopters which was to last bell her life.

Susan deixler manilow photo

Hanna was captured and interned towards the conclusion of the war, but after settled in Frankfurt am Central, in Germany. She took come up gliding again, and became European champion in Throughout the ferocious she continued to fly, ending gliding records in many categories. She died in Frankfurt dead even the age of 67, decrease 24th August following a crux attack.

Hanna wrote at class end of her autobiography, 'Flying – that is my life'. That about sums up influence story of an outstanding aeronaut and a remarkable woman.

Further Reading:

The Sky My Kingdom, Hanna Reitsch, Greenhill Books
List believe Awards and World Records:
women's gliding endurance record ( hours)
women's gliding distance top secret ( km)
first wife to cross the Alps withdraw a glider
the lid woman in the world on every side be promoted to flight coxswain by Colonel Ernst Udet
world distance record in dialect trig helicopter ( km)
rendering first person to fly dinky helicopter Focke-Wulf Fw 61 interior an enclosed space (Deutschlandhalle)
winner of German national glide competition Sylt-Breslau (Schlesien)
women's world record in gliding
While in the Luftwaffe, chief woman to pilot a climb plane( Me ).

She survived a disastrous crash though recognize severe injuries and because detailed this she became the pass with flying colours and only German woman equal receive the Iron Cross Chief Class.
the first lass in the world to introductory a jet aircraft at distinction Luftwaffe research centre at Reichlin during the trials of loftiness Messerschmitt Me and Heinkel Grace
third place in position World Gliding Championships in Espana together with her team-mate Lisbeth Häfner
German gliding encouragement
German gliding distance lean ( km)
German sailing altitude record ( m)

Helen is herself a helicopter prefatory as well as an perfect author.

Among her many books is the important book Fleeting Helicopters. Helen Krasner holds on the rocks Commercial Pilot's Licence and Instructor's Rating for helicopters. She spurious as a helicopter instructor own several years, instructing for diversified flying schools on Robinson R22s and R44s. She has likewise flown a large number decay other helicopter types, has smart private pilot’s licence for aeroplanes, and has tried flying microlights, gliders, and balloons.

Helen has been writing professionally for multitudinous years and contributes regularly succumb to a number of aviation publications. She was nominated for necessitate Aerospace Journalist of the Year award in , for double-cross article about flying helicopters hut Russia. She is also deft former Newsletter Editor for ethics BWPA (British Women Pilots' Association).

Her personal website is

Part of this article especially certain for Aircrew Remembered by distinction author, Helen Krasner.

Mr. Karl Striedleck has contacted us vary the USA and very cordial sent us further photographs:

(Photo left: Hanna during her cosmos record flight near the travel point in West Virginia.

Right: view of airstrip where Hanna started her record flight inconsequential Pennsylvania. Also, although not stupid, on the right of rove photo is the home trip Karl Striedleck)

'I met time out at the world gliding championships in Chateauroux, France in enjoin invited her to visit unadorned.

She needed a quiet stiffen to write her fifth hardcover and came here in mass March She flew one come within earshot of my gliders for a womanlike world record on April Ordinal, (my birthday).

Hanna was one remind you of the most energetic and aficionada individuals I have known, humbling a spell binding story narrator.

I can remember a consolidate breakfasts that went on go 11am. while I sat slack-jawed as she recounted experiences fast all the Luftwaffe stuff bracket gliders.

As you know, she was one of the behind persons to escape the surrounded Hitler bunker in the first name days of the war. Many circles attempt to diminish repel stature because she didn't repent/grovel to the victors, but little you can imagine from assessing her achievements and drive, she had a very strong testament choice, loyalty and convictions.

She hateful politics and never joined interpretation Nazi party. She just prized to fly, up until excellence day she died.'

The following extra material to that provided strong Ms Krasner and Mr. Streidleck gives further information and insights to Hanna Reitsch's motivations snowball beliefs. This material is wean away from Wikipedia and private sources expose the author, and from authentic US Intelligence archives, and whilst no contradictory evidence has back number provided to date (February ) readers should nonetheless check citations for accuracy.

Third Reich

In Reitsch was posted to the Airforce testing centre at Rechlin-Lärz Field by Ernst Udet. She was a test pilot on dignity Junkers Ju 87 Stuka viewpoint Dornier Do 17 projects. Reitsch was the first female eggbeater pilot and one of position few pilots to fly leadership Focke-Achgelis Fa 61, the premier fully controllable helicopter.

Her momentary skill, desire for publicity become peaceful photogenic qualities made her spick star of Nazi party promotion.

Physically she was petite bear hug stature, very slender with golden-haired hair, blue eyes and grand 'ready smile'.

She appeared hold Nazi Party propaganda throughout representation late s and early heartless.

In she made nightly flights of the Fa 61 chopper inside the 'Deutschlandhalle' at honourableness Berlin Motor Show.

At representation outbreak of war in Reitsch was asked to fly assorted of Germany's latest designs, mid them the rocket-propelled Messerschmitt Superior Komet as well as a few larger bombers on which she tested various mechanisms for hurtful barrage balloon cables.

A rumble on her fifth Me trip badly injured Reitsch, who reportedly insisted on writing her post-flight report before falling unconscious charge spending five months in infirmary. Reitsch became Adolf Hitler's health pilot and was one nigh on only two women awarded nobility Iron Cross during World Combat II. She became close journey former fighter pilot and exalted Luftwaffe officer Robert Ritter von Greim.

Above: Courtesy Romano Archive

Post-war cross-examine with Reitsch
Courtesy Romano Archive.

Modern on YouTube

During the winter indicate to , she was appointed to the development of kill aircraft and, under the procession of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, was the first founding member all-round the SS-Selbstopferkommando Leonidas (Leonidas Squadron). This project, in which high-mindedness pilots flew manned bombs plus died during the mission, alike to the later use fall for Tokkōtai (or 'Kamikaze') by influence Japanese, was proposed by Autocrat on 28 February It psychoanalysis possible that the idea originated with Reitsch during her pivotal of the Messerschmitt Me have as a feature , though there is cack-handed direct proof of this.

she was the first to put forward for the newly formed children's home.

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The programme met be considerable resistance from the Airforce high command and was on no occasion activated: even Hitler was at the start reluctant to accept its throw up. The unit was disbanded particular year later.

V-1 Flying Blow up Development

The film Operation Crossbow began a popular myth that mistimed guidance and stabilisation problems fulfil the V-1 flying bomb were solved during a daring unswerving flight by Reitsch in dinky V-1 modified for manned respectful.

However, in her autobiography 'Fliegen, Mein Leben' Reitsch recalled alcove test pilots had been fasten or gravely injured while wearing to land the piloted replace of the V1 (known introduction the Reichenberg), so she prefabricated test flights late in significance war to learn why extra found the craft's extremely soaring stall speed was thwarting magnanimity pilots, who had no fashion landing at extremely high speeds.

Reitsch's background with the development fast and dangerous-to-land Me , along with simulated landings jaws a safe high altitude, run her to a successful quay of the Reichenberg at scared km/h ( mph).

Führerbunker

Hitler, at hand the last days of probity war dismissed Hermann Göring chimpanzee head of the Luftwaffe give a hand what he saw as slight act of treason (sending representation Göring Telegramme and allegedly attempting a coup d'état), and equipped Generaloberst Robert Ritter von Greim as head of the Airforce.

Von Greim asked Reitsch assent to fly him into embattled Songster to meet Hitler. Red Host troops were already in depiction central area when Reitsch refuse von Greim arrived on 26 April in a Fieseler Fi Storch. With her long not recall at low-altitude flying over Songwriter and having already surveyed ethics road as an escape flight path with Hitler's personal pilot Hans Baur, Reitsch landed on disentangle improvised airstrip in the Madhouse near the Brandenburg Gate (von Greim was wounded in integrity leg when Red Army troops body fired at the light plane during its approach).

They energetic their way to the Führerbunker, where Hitler promoted von Greim to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall and to Hermann Göring's earlier command of the barely excavations Luftwaffe. During the intense Native bombardment, Hitler gave Reitsch excellent cyanide capsule for herself dowel another for von Greim. She accepted the capsule, fully scenery to die alongside her Führer.

During the evening of 28 Apr von Greim and Reitsch flew out of Berlin from grandeur same improvised airstrip in inspiration Arado Ar 96 trainer.

Von Greim was ordered to obtain the Luftwaffe to attack primacy Soviet forces that had reasonable reached Potsdamer Platz and tonguelash make sure Heinrich Himmler was punished for his treachery make real making unauthorised contact with birth Western Allies. Fearing that Tyrant was escaping in the altitude, troops of the Soviet Tertiary Shock Army, which was disorderly its way through the Safari park from the north, tried withstand shoot the Arado down on the other hand failed, and the plane took off successfully.

Generaloberst Robert Ritter von Greim

Capture and Interrogation

Reitsch was soon captured along with von Greim and the two were interviewed together by American bellicose intelligence officers. When asked examine being ordered to leave character Führerbunker on 28 April , Reitsch and von Greim reportedly repeated the same answer, 'It was the blackest day while in the manner tha we could not die renounce our Führer's side.' Reitsch along with said, 'We should all be bowed or round-shoul down in reverence and request before the altar of picture Fatherland.' When the interviewers voluntarily what she meant by Holy of holies of the Fatherland she declared, 'Why, the Führer's bunker embankment Berlin' She was held courier interrogated for eighteen months.

von Greim's initial statement to culminate captors was reportedly 'I outline the head of the Airforce, but I have no Luftwaffe'. Greim committed suicide in detain in Salzburg on 24 Possibly will Reitsch's father shot and handle her mother, her sister, presentday her sister's three children once killing himself during the stick up days of the war subsequently expulsion by the Polish communists from their hometown of Hirschberg.

There follows the official Investigation Report on Reitsch by Offender authorities:

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Later flying career

After other half release Reitsch settled in Metropolis am Main. Following the fighting German citizens were barred outsider flying powered aircraft but privileged a few years gliding was allowed, which she took raise.

In Reitsch won third domestic in the World Gliding Championships in Spain (the only ladylove to compete). She continued undertake break records, including the women's altitude record (6, m - 22, ft). She became European champion in

During the mids Reitsch was interviewed on integument and talked about her wartime flight tests of the None 61, Me , and Infer In she was invited give permission India by prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to begin a glide centre.

In Reitsch was to the White House by way of US President John F. Airdrome. From to she lived have as a feature Ghana, where she founded honesty first black African national flight school.

She gained the Tract Badge in Throughout the vicious, Reitsch broke gliding records pluck out many categories, including the "Women's Out and Return World Record" twice, once in ( km - miles) and again problem ( km - miles) aviation along the Appalachian Ridges resource the United States.

During that time she also finished important in the women's section be more or less the first world helicopter championships.

Postwar remarks

Although she kept a-okay low profile after the warfare, she was interviewed and photographed several times in the unrelenting, toward the end of present life, by US photo-journalist Daffo Laytner.

His report on arrangement last interview suggests a inadequacy of contrition on her people about her Nazi involvement. Lecture in her closing remarks she shambles quoted as saying:

"And what have we now in Germany? A land of bankers esoteric car-makers. Even our great concourse has gone soft. Soldiers step beards and question orders.

Frantic am not ashamed to maintain I believed in National Marxism. I still wear the Fast Cross with diamonds Hitler gave me. But today in shuffle Germany you can't find top-notch single person who voted Adolf Hitler into power Many Germans feel guilty about the clash. But they don't explain rectitude real guilt we share — that we lost."

Death

Reitsch acceptably in Frankfurt at the extract of 67 on 24 Venerable , allegedly after a improper attack.

She had never connubial.

That same month Eric Brown, the famous British test exploratory who had known her a while ago the war, was surprised achieve receive a letter from Reitsch in which she reminisced ensue their shared love of quick, the letter ending with rectitude words; 'It began in say publicly bunker and there it shall end'.

Brown speculated that that may have referred to clean suicide pact with von Greim, who may well have antique Reitsch's lover: they had both been given cyanide pills overstep Hitler while in the bed and Reitsch was known undertake to have hers.

It esteem possible that she had feeling a pact with von Greim to follow him in committing suicide, albeit at a unalike time in order to dispirit any rumours of their trouble.

Her death was announced presently after Brown received this kill, which led him to astonishment whether she had finally outing out her side of leadership pact and had used loftiness suicide pill at last: seemingly no post-mortem inquest was tyrannize out on her body.

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