Hanna Reitsch
German pilot and test pilot
Born
March 29th, 1912
113 years ago
Died
August 24th, 1979
45 years ago — 67 years old
Category
Athletes & Sports Figures
Country
Germany
Links & References
Born in 1912, a pioneering test pilot in Germany. Worked with the German military during World War II and was involved in the development of advanced aircraft. Reitsch flew various aircraft types, including the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket plane and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. After the war, she continued to work in aviation, promoting flight safety and training new pilots. Played a crucial role in demonstrating the capabilities of German aircraft in the early era of jet and rocket propulsion. Despite controversies surrounding her affiliations, her contributions to aviation technology remain noted.
First woman to receive the Iron Cross 1st Class
Test flew the first operational rocket-powered aircraft
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