This collection contains interviews with Reimar and Walter Horten that were recorded by David Myhra.
Scope and Contents:
This collection contains interviews with Reimar and Walter Horten taped by David Myhra, author of The Horten Brothers and Their All-winged Aircraft. It includes various topics relating to the Hortens, and comprises sixty original tapes donated by Myhra, as well as two copies made by NASM, one consisting of sixty-one master reel-to-reels, and another of 120 reference CD-Rs. A box of "transcripts" for some of the tapes is also included in the collection, although it is unclear which transcripts go with which tapes.
Arrangement:
This finding aid was generated from the original recording labels. Mr. Myhra labeled most of the tapes, but each group of tapes is labeled differently. Dates are included when provided but the list does not follow a chronological order, which is irrelevant anyway considering the wandering nature of Mr. Myhra's interviews. The finding aid is arranged in groups, which roughly correspond to each set of interviews. In addition, NASM has given each tape a new number which runs consecutively from one through sixty. The original number given by David Myhra is listed in the description of each tape. The new NASM numbers for the original tapes correspond to the NASM reel numbers and the NASM CD-R numbers as to make locating each copy more convenient.
Biographical / Historical:
Reimar Horten and his brother Walter, two largely self-taught aircraft designers, were born in Bonn, Germany; Walter on March 3, 1912, and Reimar on March 12, 1915. Their interest in aircraft began as early as 1925 when they joined a fliers' club in Bonn. In 1932 Reimar and Walter commenced work on their first piloted all-wing sailplane the Ho I. The basic concept of the flying wing dates from the dawn of aviation, but the Horten brothers became the virtuosos of this aircraft. The Horten all-wing sailplanes were gliders without a fuselage or tail section. Because the fuselage and the tail section of a regular plane produced 30% to 50% of an airplane's drag, the benefit of the sailplanes was clear. During the time preceding World War II the brothers improved upon the Ho I glider, creating other models including the Ho II, Ho III, and the Ho IV--none of which had any engines. Reimar and Walter joined the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) during the course of the war where Walter flew Messerschmitt Bf-109s for six months and Reimar worked for Operation Sea Lion, whose objective was the invasion of England. Upon the cancellation of this operation the Horten brothers went on to continue their projects, developing many enhanced versions of their original flying-wing. In 1942 Reimar began working on the Ho VII at the Luftwaffe's request, a machine equipped with two pusher-type propellers and a pulse jet engine. However, the Ho VII was not strong enough to fly safely at the greater speeds made possible by the jet, so the brothers began work on the new Ho IX (code named "Go 229"), the first functional jet propelled flying wing. The arrival of the American army in 1945 ended the construction of this type of aircraft. After the war, Reimar moved to Argentina where he continued to develop his unorthodox aircraft designs; Walter stayed in Germany. Walter died in 1988 and Reimar died in 1994.
Provenance:
David Myhra, Gift, 1998
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Topic:
World War, 1939-1945 -- Germany -- Refugees Search this
Horten XIIIb, Horten XIIIc that Reimar designed in Argentina; Horton XIV for postwar Olympic Games, rumored in Poland, Horten IV with 16-meter wingspan (contradictions in Nurflügel, page 163) [5:09]; [9:00] Horten XVIII; [10:57] Horten XVIIIb and different engine configurations, jettison landing gear and land on air bags; [20:00] Discussion whether Horten XV (see 47:00) should be included in Myhra's Horten book - is it a real Horten design? Walter insists that Reimar designed it. [35:38] Walter on the Fw 190; [39:06] I. A. e 48?, last aircraft Reimar worked on before he retired; [42:57] Discussion on pilot seating position in Argentina, prone not accepted. [56:43] Walter on Hitler, Wolfram played the accordion [63:00].
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Walter and Reimar Horten Interviews [Myhra], Acc. 1999-0065, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Reimar discusses Scheidhauer response to Ziller and crash, Reimar files short accident report, Scheidhauer upset that Ziller, not Scheidhauer, would fly Horten IX; [2:45] Ziller's ME-262 experience; Reimar describes working conditions at Kalla (sp?) where Sauer tried to transfer Göttingen Horten team and Reimar, "POW environment." [10:15] Where is Scheidhauer? [11:10] He went to Rechlin to get some 262 time, to fly Horten IX, "Scheidhauer without discipline," "you call me Reimar, I call you Heinz," conflict with Walter over rank? [19:30] Reimar declines to send Scheidhauer packing and condemn him to death on Eastern Front; [20:00] No one (Scheidhauer) at Oranienburg to help Ziller, Reimar wanted Hanna Reich as test pilot "better pilot than Ziller;" Scheidhauer's lack of education gives him an "inferiority complex," [23:10] Reimar had to go to the university and missed flight of Horten IV [25:25] mechanical problems with Horten IX, impact on Ziller; condition of Horten IX V3 at Smithsonian; various names discussed as Horten and Myhra look at photographs; [32:15] Horten VII and Klemm production, Herr Klemm returned his Nazi uniform, almost sent to concentration camp, relegated to secondary work thereafter. [38:20] Peshke at Minden, planned to build 20 Horten VIIs, finished one. [41:53] Reimar on vertical tail, discusses dutch roll [53:00] on Horten IX, effect of vertical tail, worse with fin. Russian POWs damage Horten XIII, Hermann Strabel flew, not Scheidhauer.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Walter and Reimar Horten Interviews [Myhra], Acc. 1999-0065, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Reimar and Myhra continue discussing Battle of Britain, Walter's preoccupation with battle, that time and place, the loss of so many fellow pilots [4:30]; Reimar talks about the variable or gradient force control stick used on the Horten IX [4:44] R: "Cinematic" (same as kinematic?) between stick movement and control surface movement [6:59]; Reimar talks about problems acquiring, or building, noses for Horten IX ribs [11:15]; [11:37] Reimar describes what he did when the war began, his work on Horten III as ammo carriers for invasion of England. [16:00] Repairs to the Horten V; [18:21] Reimar on Walter's career at this time, Daimler-Benz DB601N engine was installed in his BF 109, demo for Reichsmarshall Göring just before Battle of France started, engine not used during Battle of Britain. [22:41]. Lessons of Battle of Britain; [29:57] Lessons of Battle of Britain used to build better twin-engined fighter - Horten IX, Luftwaffe Inspection 3, [34:00] wanted technical expert with combat flying experience, lead by General Van Doering (sp?), invited Walter to Berlin, Reimar encourages him to go to Berlin, so that Walter could get Reimar authorization to rebuild the Horten V. At this time, Reimar transferred [34:56] "with the school" (from Braunschweig?) to Königsberg Neuhausen. Reimar separated from Walter for six months. Numerous references to designing and constructing Horten IV [33:50, 40:45]; Reimar discusses various configurations that he considered as he thought about rebuilding the Horten V, Schmitt-Argus pulsejets, turbines, etc. [45:00]; Reimar on Lippisch [56:21] - much discussion on finding suitable engine for fighter, alternate wing; general discussion of other engines Reimar considered using in the Horten IX.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Walter and Reimar Horten Interviews [Myhra], Acc. 1999-0065, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Reimar on long-range strike Horten VIII recon aircraft to fly beyond England, search up and down European coast, 2-3 man crew, twice the wingspan of the Horten III, 400 kph, 24-hour endurance, Junkers 210 engine, 4-6 engines; [9:30] Reimar won Lilienthal prize, 1938, discharged from the army; [15:00] Reimar talks about use of Fw 200 as military transport...back on the Horten VIII to [21:03]; [21:04] August 1940, Reimar in Berlin where two Horten IIIs are under construction, builders asked whether any universities or schools wanted to build more Horten IIIs but Reimar not interested, on to Horten IV and VI; [22:44] - [36:45] Reimar on Ernst Heinkel; [38:17] Captain Manuel killed while testing Pulqui Dos?; [40:00] Reimar talks while sketching aerdynamic principles to Myhra - to illustrate problems with stability of Pulqui Dos.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Walter and Reimar Horten Interviews [Myhra], Acc. 1999-0065, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Continue discussion from end of CD 50a, last days of the war for Reimar and Walter, contact with Sauer, visit to Nordhausen, Americans in Kassel. [6:10] Reimar destroys some, but not all, the documents he carried about the Junkes 004 engine; [9:00] Reimar picked up by Americans in the Harz Mountains, by jeep to Göttingen, DC-3 aircraft to London, arrived 7 April 1945 [11:54]. Reimar on some problems with the 004 engine (as installed in Horten IX at Göttingen?). [14:14] Reimar heard "propaganda" about concentration camps, the situation in the concentration camps "was a thing of propaganda" [15:10] …Reimar visited Sachsenhausen, Nordhausen. [18:20] Reimar on Klemperer flying the Horten III at Oranienburg …Reimar visits concentration camp there (Sachsenhausen). [25:20] Walter gets 30 SS men to help his team until the end of the war, "good hard workers." [26:27] Flight test program at Oranienburg on Horten IX V2, Reimar and Walter told Ziller to make 30-minute flights at 4,000 meters altitude or less, Ziller reported that the Horten IX could out-turn Me 262 in mock dogfights (so flown more than 3 times?!), landed more slowly, could out-climb that aircraft, Horten IX could climb about 20-22 meters per second, based on telephone reports from Ziller, these were Reimar's "impressions," precise measurements not made. [34:12] Fastest speed, not over 500 kph or over 4000 m = 600 kph, Ziller climbed at full throttle but did not use full throttle in level flight. [41:30] Ziller made 8-10 flights in Horten IX V2, says Reimar. Reimar on Rössler, he needed to be "protected," medical condition, other trauma? [46:39] Ziller landed "hard" in Horten IX V2, bent struts, lost 14 days repairing the aircraft in January 1945 …Reimar discusses these repairs, allocation of men, tools, etc. [55:06] Horten IX V2 a sensational airplane to other personnel at Oranienburg, Myhra says they called it "Fledermaus," or bat. [56:00] Walter ordered a Horten IV brought to Oranienburg to demonstrate high-performance sailplane to Göring's staff, RLM officials visited, to sell aero community on all-wing potential, Schiedhauer could fly in spare time. [59:00] Walter reported one of the turbines stalled …Reimar believed engine ok, Walter reported engine sometimes stalled during start, Junkers mechanics found nothing wrong.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Walter and Reimar Horten Interviews [Myhra], Acc. 1999-0065, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Discussion about Gassler (?), designer at Klemm, Fiesler, worked on Me 108, '109, V-1. [2:20] Reimar discusses Dr. Dietrich, worked for Argus on pulse-jet engine, Horten brothers considered using in Horten VII …met Peron in Argentina …[7:20] Dietrich told Reimar pulse-jet too noisy for practical use …discussion on various engines considered for Horten wings. [10:56] Walter as originator, through Diesing, of Göring's 1000x1000x1000 edict to German aircraft industry. [12:51] Character of Gen. Diesing. [15:00] Reimar: Walter cultivated many contacts throughout Luftwaffe. [18:00] What Milch thought about Horten IX and all-wing …Milch made Heinkel 177 into a dive bomber …[22:00] Milch approved Horten IX …Milch wanted to give Me 262 to Horten GMbH to produce, swept wing expertise, according to Myhra. [27:15] Engine placement on Horten IX …[28:35] Reimar on Heinkel and von Ohain and turbojet engine …[33:00] Discussions between Walter and Udet about new all-wing fighter for Germany. Multhopp on Horten IX [35:30]. 1943 Lilienthal Gesellschaft conference, Tank, Multhopp, Lippisch, for and against the flying wing, also present at this meeting professors from Darmstadt, Braunschweig, Adlershof; Reimar never mentioned bell lift distribution, "all against" flying wing except Lippisch, Reimar decided not to mention bell distribution, all professors but no pilots …[38:20] "…great tapering, small wingtips and great root …" element of bell distribution …Lippisch agree with us [on benefits of flying wing] and [he was] attacking them…" [40:00] Clout of Antz at RLM. Reimar then describes possible speed range of jet aircraft, 747, Horten IX, with original small center section 960 kph, with larger center section 920 kph, Reimar estimated these speeds and he did not want to claim 1,000 kph, as Walter urged. Ziller thought Horten IX capable of 900 kph [45:00]. Reimar on dynamic pressure vis-a-vie wing skin thickness, etc. [48:18] Horten IX wingtips required reinforcement of wood with metal strips, Dr. Pinton at Dynamit AG had a glue that would bond aluminum and wood, Reimar tested concept and practiced bonding procedure on Horten IV b, but Wilkenson dismissed IV b work as wasteful diversion [50:30] …also had to reinforce Horten IX V3 but hide metal strips from radar. [53:29] Reimar on glue developed by Dr. Pinton at Dynamit AG to bond plastics, also good for fuel-proof coating inside Horten IX wet-wing, etc… Reimar's ideas for increasing torsional stiffness in wingtip, aiming to withstand 5,000 kg/m² dynamic pressure.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Collection Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
Walter and Reimar Horten Interviews [Myhra], Acc. 1999-0065, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
No restrictions. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by the Smithsonian Institution Archives. Contact SIA Reference Staff for further information (email photos@si.edu)
Data Source:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_arc_367120
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