Trip to Peenemünde and Rechlin-Lärz

[dppintr]

In 2011 I made a VFR trip to the former secret rockets and missiles development center at Peenemünde, and to Rechlin-Lärz, the former testing ground for secret German air force experiments.

 

Peenemünde is known for the Peenemünde Army Research Center, where the world's first functional large-scale liquid-propellant rocket, the V-2, was developed. The first launch of a missile into space took place here in October 1942. German scientists such as Wernher von Braun, who worked at the V-2 facility, were known as "Peenemünders".

 

 

V-2 launch

 

Rechlin-Lärz was once part of the Third Reich era's Luftwaffe main testing ground, or Erprobungsstelle for new aircraft designs. Construction of the first airfield at Rechlin started in 1916. In 1935, the Rechlin airfield became the official testing ground of the newly formed Luftwaffe. Also captured planes were tested at the airfields.

 

 

Dornier Do 335 "Pfeil"

 

A trip report with pictures can be found here

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Wernher von Braun was in Sydney in the early 1960s and presented physics on morning TV Summer School of Science with Harry Messel and Julius Sumner Miller. I watched it fascinated.