OT: Wernher von Braun

[Trading Tiger]

What do you know about him?

 

[SGTiger]

Heard his 40 time was rocket fast.

 

[watty55]

 

[Stripey]

True genius. Amazing mind for designing mechanical equipment. I wouldn't use anyone else's electric shaver.

 

[Cabotiger]

OR

 

[Buzzards Roost]

Designed Saturn 5 for moon shot. Developed V-2 rocket for Nazis in WWII then managed to come over to our side after the war. Instrumental in our space program in the 50s and 60s. A household name of my generation.

 

[Esso Porch]

He's the black version of Bill Brasky

 

[utgolfer]

Designed Saturn 5 for moon shot. Developed V-2 rocket for Nazis in WWII then managed to come over to our side after the war. Instrumental in our space program in the 50s and 60s. A household name of my generation.

+1 he was definitely a badass. Basically ran our space program from its inception all the way though the moon landings, and he wasn't just an administrator, but heavily involved in the design of the rockets as they evolved all the way to the Saturn V beast.

For someone who was working for the enemy, to be given that kind of responsibility in the US post war, tells you what a rare individual he was.

 

[ladedade]

He's the black version of Bill Brasky

He hated Germans! And he was German! And he hated irony!

 

[Willence]

Very conflicting and controversial figure. I still haven't decided about him to be honest. He was there for some horrible stuff in Nazi Germany.

 

[cuad4u]

Von Braum and Kelly Johnson were geniuses. IMO no one else had anywhere near the impact they had in their fields in aviation.

 

[clemcol57]

He was the subject of my first presentation in Public Speaking class at Clemson many years ago.

 

[Clemtig1983]

His daughter was a ChemE professor at Iowa.

 

[gogetem]

+1 he was definitely a badass. Basically ran our space program from its inception all the way though the moon landings, and he wasn't just an administrator, but heavily involved in the design of the rockets as they evolved all the way to the Saturn V beast.

For someone who was working for the enemy, to be given that kind of responsibility in the US post war, tells you what a rare individual he was.

Well, considering his other option was to be turned over to the Russians, not sure he had much of a choice. In fact, we did that with many former Germans after the war, from all the services.

 

[Trading Tiger]

Well, considering his other option was to be turned over to the Russians, not sure he had much of a choice. In fact, we did that with many former Germans after the war, from all the services.

Operation Paperclip