Herbert A. Wagner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herbert Alois Wagner
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| Born | 22 May 1900 |
| Died | 28 May 1982 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Austrian, German |
| Alma mater | Technical University of Berlin |
| Known for | Henschel Hs 293 Henschel Hs 117 Operation Paperclip |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Aerodynamics |
| Institutions | Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau |
Herbert Alois Wagner (born May 22, 1900 – died May 28, 1982) was a brilliant Austrian scientist. He created many new things in how aircraft fly, how they are built, and how guided weapons work. He is most famous for "Wagner's function," which explains how wings get lift when they suddenly move. He also developed the Henschel Hs 293 glide bomb.
Early Life and Big Ideas
Herbert Wagner went to the Austrian Naval Academy from 1914 to 1917. He served in the Austrian Navy during World War I. He even survived when his ship was hit by a torpedo!
After the war, he went back to school. He earned a special degree called a doctorate from the Technical University of Berlin when he was just 23. His main project was about how wings get lift when they suddenly start moving. This idea later became known as "Wagner's function."
In the mid-1920s, he worked for a company called Rohrbach Metall-Flugzeugbau. There, he helped design new flying boats. He also invented the Wagner beam, a way to build strong aircraft parts from thin metal sheets.
After teaching for a short time, he joined Junkers Flugzeugwerke. He helped design aircraft and engines, working with Hans von Ohain. He played a key role in making the first jet engines. Later, he moved to Henschel Flugzeugwerke in Berlin.
World War II Research
While at Henschel, Wagner started studying aircraft that could be controlled from far away. In July 1940, he began working on a new type of glide bomb. This bomb was designed to attack ships that didn't have very strong armor.
This project led to the Hs 293 guided missile. This missile was used very well in late 1943 and early 1944. One big success was sinking HMS Egret on August 27, 1943. This was the first time a ship was sunk by a weapon controlled from a distance. Another important success was sinking the transport ship HMT Rohna. Over 1,000 soldiers, sailors, and crew members were lost.
However, the Allies found ways to stop the Hs 293. They used special equipment called electronic jammers to block the radio signals. Also, the Allies had more control of the skies. These reasons stopped the Hs 293 from being as effective later in the war.
Wagner also designed another guided missile called the Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling. This missile was made to shoot down enemy aircraft from the ground.
After the War
After World War II, Wagner was one of the first German scientists to come to America. This was part of a secret plan called Operation Paperclip. He arrived in Maryland in May 1945 with many blueprints and technical papers.
Wagner and his team worked for the U.S. Navy. They helped develop glide bombs for use against Japan. Later, Wagner moved to the Naval Air Missile Test Center in California. This was a main center for the U.S. Navy's research into guided missiles. He helped create the control systems for advanced missiles. Some of these systems are still used today in updated forms.
A government report described him as an excellent scientist who was very focused on his work. He was not interested in politics and was dedicated to science.
Later, Wagner left government service and started his own company. He sold this company in 1957 and went back to Germany. He became a professor at the RWTH Aachen University. He also continued to advise several U.S. defense companies. In 1980, Wagner received the Ludwig-Prandtl-Ring award for his amazing work in aerospace engineering. He passed away on May 28, 1982, at the age of 82.
