Evening star., 1941-11-18
Udet
Continued From First Page)

tried to fly a glider. For his World
War exploits he was put seven years
ahead in his military career
In 1922 Udet founded his own
Airplane factory at Munich, trans
ferring it to Augsburg in 1926. but
it apparently was not financial
success. After that venture he
turned to stunt flying throughout
Europe and America. Among his
adventures were series of flights
over the Alps and into Arctic re-
gions to assist Leni Riefenstahl,
famous German woman motion pic
ture photographer. in filming those
regions. His Arctic flights, in the
course of which he once was given
up as lost after a four-day absence,
were held of outstanding scientific
value.
Received by Frenchmen.
Udet was received by French avi-
ators at the Aero Club in Paris in
1928, the first German flyer so hon.
ored after the World War
When Hermann Goering became
air minister he advanced Udet, his
World War comrade, to be vice com.
modore in the German air sports
organization, and later. on official
establishment of the German air
force, to be colonel in it. He was
rapidly promoted.
He was made colonel general,
L. ovcho1 -Il11U
10, 1910.
On Ernst Udet probably more
than any other man connected with
the Nazi air force fell responsibility
for keeping Germany abreast-and
II possible. ahead-of her enemies
In the air.
As chief engineer and chief OF
supply for the mighty Nazi air arm
1t was Gen. Udet largely who shaped
1t as a weapon.
Credited With 81 Planes.
Most famous of Germany's flying
aces to survive the World War, he
was assigned to the job Of driving
a small army of German airplane
designers to their peak Of achieve
ment.
The daredevil of World War days
credited with shooting down g.
planes and awarded the highest
German military decoration, the
Pour le Merite-had flown in recen,
years only to test new types OF war.
planes.
When new planes appeared ir
combat in this war it was Gen. Udet
who had ordered them and approved
their design.
He hated detail His friends o.
pre- Hitler days would tell you they
never believed he could settle dowr
to the confining duties Of his post
one OF the most exacting of natior
at war.
He had a touch of genius both fol
motors and aircraft design. Wher
he brought an exhibition plane u
the United States in 1881 he timed
the motor by touch for lack of in
struments He once built a plan,
without blueprints, working out tn
design II his head.
His talents were varied, He wa
an excellent cartoonist. One of hi
stunts TO entertain guests in hi
Berlin bachelors apartment was b.
splitting door knobs with bullets.
Hair-Raising Stunt Flying.
In post-World War years Ger
Udet was known chiefly for his hair
raising stunt flying.
On his 1881 visit to the Unite'
States he SKINNED under Nev
York's He'll Gate Bridge across tn
East River in a type Of plane h
never had flown before. Two year
later he was a stunt flyer at tn
national air races in Los Angelo
and in other cities. He was . self
taught glider expert.
Friends who knew him well sal
one reason for his wild streak wa
his disappointment at the enforce
break In his brilliant military dyin
career. The treaty of Versatile
grounded Germany's old air force
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 1S (P,.-Col. Ger
Ernst Udet of the German air force
who was killed in an accident yes
terday, Is survived by half brothe
in st. Louis, Adolph H. Vogel,
construction engineer.
They saw each other last in June
1888, when Gen. Udet made an over
night stop here en- route by plan
to the national air races in Lo
Angeles.