The picture was taken in Schwednitz/Silesia in October 1944. Flettner Fl 282 reconnaissance helicopter The Flettner Fl 282 was the first helicopter to be used in warfare. During World War II, Nazi Germany tested the craft in the Mediterranean theatre. Plans to build 1,000 Flettner Fl 282 was abandoned after the Flettner factories were bombed by the Allies. Only three of these helicopters survived the war; the rest were destroyed to prevent capture. Today only a few components still exist.
Peter, I was lucky to meet Richard Perlia, the test pilot for Flettner, when I attended an air show at Rechlin/Lärz airfield in the summer of 2003. He was then 98 years old and still going strong, living in Berlin. I bought one of his books which is excellent reading about his life and love of planes. He worked for several aircraft manufactures as test pilot and was one of the first to fly a true helicopter. The attached first two photos show the location of the Rechlin Test centre, which was an ex 1st World War aerodrome. The new aerodrome was built during WW2 to the South and was taken over by the Soviets after the war. Picture three shows the front page of the book I bought. The last picture shows Richard writing a brief passage and signing the book for me. A happy memory to treasure. Regards Tom
I'd say it was a bit cold for the pilots of that Helicopter. Fascinating design. Weird seeing a helicopter with a swastika on it. Tom, thats a great post and he sounds like a really interesting character. Did he work as a test pilot after the war or did his career stop after 1945?
Gotthard, There was not much call for test pilots post war and he became a photo jounalist and has also written several books. Apparently he was helped by the English Military mission to flee Potsdam with his family as the Russians wanted to imprison him. Apparently it was Richard that took the photograph of the youth throwing the stone at the Russian tank during the 17th June 1953 which hit all the front pages. The camera was hidden in a hollowed out book being carried by Richard. Regards Tom
Gotthard, Here is a picture of the original photo taken with the hidden camera. Also picture of the hidden camera. Regards Tom
Great reply Tom, some people seem to have all the luck, you certainly meet some very interesting people. Regards Peter.
Peter, These things are pure chance. Holidaying in Mirow, nearby and saw a flier for the airshow. The family were not too keen at first, but having got there we all had a wonderful day. I just happened to be looking at the book I eventually bought when the stall holder approached me and informed me that the author was sat a few feet away and would I like to speak to him. I bought the book, but totally out of the blue he started to write a passage in dedication to me and signed it, which I thought was a great gesture. So you see it was just pure luck that I was there. There was also a shutttle bus to the museum at the old airfield to the north, which was the WW2 German "Farnborough". That too was also a nice excusion. Regards Tom Regards Tom
I know what you mean by chance Tom. I was in town (Windsor) when I realised Douglas Bader was signing copies of the book 'Flying Colours' in a bookshop so I jumped in quick, shook his hand, paid my £9.99 and that was it.
Gotthard, Here is a picture of the original photo taken with the hidden camera. Also picture of the hidden camera. Regards Tom You've got to admire those boys bravery. God love them, I'm sure their fate wasnt very nice.
Peter, Like you say pure luck or chance, but it is nice to make the most of the occasion! Meeting Douglas Bader would have been many persons dream, including mine. Gotthard, Yes it took more than a little guts to stand up to T34's with just small pieces of paving stone to throw at them. It took a lot more years to get what they desired, but it came to pass. Regards Tom
Have found some information in English regarding the WW2 German Test Pilot, Richard Perlia mentioned in this thread due to the Flettner connection. Perlia, Richard — Hubschraubermuseum Bueckeburg Google Translate FH Aachen: Richard Perlia zu Gast im Fachbereich Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik, 19.01.2006 The above link shows him still going strong at 102 years of age. Regards Tom
Regarding the encounters with Douglas Bader, I left the Fleet Air Arm in 1979 and worked at Bristow Helicopters in Redhill as a licencsed avionics engineer on Seakings and Wessex. On several occassions I passed by Douglas in the hangar and always wondered what the funny metallic noise was which seemed to occompany him every time I was near to him. It wasnt until much later that I become aware of his famous tinlegs and expolits.
