Fritz Wendel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fritz Wendal | |
|---|---|
| 21 February 1915 — 9 February 1975 (aged 59) | |
| Place of death | Augsburg |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Luftwaffe |
Fritz Wendel (February 21, 1915–February 9, 1975) was a German test pilot for the Messerschmitt during the 1930s and 1940s.
[edit] Achievements
On 26 April 1939 Fritz Wendel set the world air speed record of 469.22 mph, flying the Messerschmitt Me 209 V1. He defeated the record set on 30 March 1939 by Hans Dieterle flying the Heinkel He 100 V8. The record was to stand for thirty years, being broken on 16 August 1969 by Darryl Greenamyer in a highlymodified 3,100 hp F8F Bearcat named “Conquest 1” reaching 483.041 mph. Relics of the Me 209 V1 still exist in the Polish Air Museum at Krakow.
On 18 July 1942 in Leipheim near Günzburg, Germany, Wendel test flew the Messerschmitt Me 262. This flight was significant as it was conducted with jet engines (Junkers Jumo 003) for the first time. The Me 262 had flown first on 8 April 1941 with piston engines.
[edit] Reference
- Feist, Uwe. The Fighting Me 109. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1993, ISBN 1-85409-209-X.
