Hanna Reitsch

Hanna Reitsch (1912–1979) was a German aviator and test pilot who set flying records and served Nazi Germany during World War II.

Ernst Udet: Ernst Udet was a German World War I flying ace and Luftwaffe official responsible for aircraft development. As a senior Luftwaffe figure, he supported Reitsch’s test-pilot work.
Focke-Wulf Fw 61: The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was an experimental German helicopter first flown in 1936. Reitsch’s demonstrations helped make this early helicopter famous.
Flight testing: Flight testing evaluates an aircraft’s performance, handling, and safety through planned flights and measurements. Reitsch’s work placed her in a discipline where pilots deliberately tested aircraft limits.
Denazification: Denazification was the Allied effort after World War II to remove Nazi influence from German society and institutions. Reitsch was questioned and classified during the postwar process, without being convicted of a crime.
Robert Ritter von Greim: Robert Ritter von Greim was a German military aviator who became commander of the Luftwaffe in 1945. Reitsch flew him into besieged Berlin during the final days of the Nazi regime.
Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet: The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was a German rocket-powered interceptor used in World War II. Reitsch tested the dangerous rocket aircraft and survived a severe crash in 1942.
Rocket-powered aircraft: Rocket-powered aircraft use rocket engines to generate thrust without relying on atmospheric oxygen. The Me 163’s propulsion created extreme speed, fuel, and landing hazards during Reitsch’s tests.
Nazi propaganda: Nazi propaganda was the state-directed communication system used to promote Nazi ideology and control public opinion. The regime presented Reitsch as evidence of German technical achievement and women’s service.
Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until 1945. Reitsch met Hitler repeatedly and remained personally loyal to him.
Junkers Ju 87: The Junkers Ju 87 was a German dive-bomber widely known as the Stuka. Reitsch tested a Stuka fitted with experimental braking devices for steep dives.

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