Walther Johannes Riedel

In 1929, Riedel graduated from the Technische Hochschule in Berlin (now Technische Universität Berlin); From 1936 to 1946, he directed development of liquid-fueled rockets at Peenemünde.^[1][2] In 1942, Reidell was chief of design on the V-2.^[3]

During the US occupation of Germany, Riedel was arrested and jailed.^[4] German rocket scientists including Riedel were sent to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip.^[5] In 1946, he was profiled for cooperating with authorities at Fort Bliss, Texas.^[6] One article featured Riedel's complaints that American food was tasteless compared to that of his native Germany.^[7][8] On December 30, Albert Einstein and the American Federation of Scientists authored a letter in protest.^[8] Riedel was employed by North American Aviation which sought to recreate and improve upon the V-2.^[9]

In 1949, the United Press quoted Riedel's prediction of space ships in 25 years.^[10] He was against profiled in 1949 for his work at North American Aviation's plant in Downey, California.^[11][12] Letters to the editor featured a complaint about the piece's positive treatment of Riedel.^[13][8] I In 1952, Riedel was mentioned in Life Magazine's article "Have We Visitors From Space?", saying of UFOs: "I am completely convinced that they have an out-of-world basis".^[14]: 132 Riedel argued the objects exhibited maneuvers that "only a pilot could perform but that no human pilot could stand."^[14]: 132

Riedel analyzed George Adamski's flying saucer photos and found them to be faked. The "landing struts" were General Electric light bulbs with logos printed on them.^[15][16] UFO researcher Joel Carpenter identified the body of Adamski's "flying saucer" as the lampshade from a 1930s pressure lantern.^[17][18] Riedel was a member of the Civilian Saucer Investigation of Los Angeles. In 1953, he was denounced by fellow NAA employee Victor Black, leading to an interview with the CIA.^[19]

He returned to West Germany and died in Hamburg in 1974.^[20]