The Last Nazi Rocket Scientist

[Dave Monroe]

Well, hey, kids, couldn't keep THIS under my hairpiece, so, well, for better or
(more likely) worse, I'm back.  Hope you're still around, Inger.  Do do DO see
the following, if you haven't already ...

http://history.msfc.nasa.gov/special/disney.html

... and here be pictures!

http://www.ccsi.com/~srogers/hobbies/rockets/retro/vonbraun/

... having trouble accessing this one, but ...

www.vonbrauncelebration.org/HistoryArts.html

In the meantime, a friend called to tell me the new issue of The Fortean Times
(http://www.forteantimes.com/) has an interesting (albeit not currently
online--apparently, they want you to BUY the magazine) bit of V-@ apocrypha in
it.  Apparently, one Norman Bergrun claims that one of the V-2 team (Willy
Fiedler or somesuch?) actually went up in a V-2 prototype whilst working on the
guidance system.  Of course, Bergrun also claims that giant cylindrical objects
are spewing out the rings of Saturn
(http://www.anomalies.net/~bergrun/bergrun.htm), but ... well, an interesting
rumor, hoax, whatever, whether or not it's true, just wonder how long it's been
around ...

"Inger H. Dalsgaard" wrote:

> Erm. . . yes, (as Dave Monroe suggests) I doubt Disney will be cooperative
> in providing copies of von Braun's Shows, if approached by researchers. On
> the Other hand, though von Braun's halo may currently be under attack from
> scholars and in BBC documentaries etc, the web site you provide is an
> example of how the charisma, not so much of VB, the Man, as V2, the Rocket
> itself keeps attracting buffs who desire its reconstruction. Sounds like
> Gravity's Rainbow, doesn't it? Von Braun escapes overhead again, while the
> Forces and individuals scramble around on the ground looking obsessively
> (and opportunistically)for the vehicle.
>
> Another interesting development is the way official NASA websites present VB
> more openly and admiringly these days. I honestly think the Rocket Baron is
> acquiring the sort of eternal life which he claims for himself (with the
> help of a Franklin quote)in the longer version of the text Pynchon uses as
> his preface - even though this is also a time when personal memories (e.g.
> by Beon and Garlinski) of the 'holocaust' aspects of the rocket program (are
> allowed to) surface.
>
> Gravity's Rainbow takes an interesting position, then, in the midst of
> history (re)writing - personal and public. Something which became clear from
> talking to the director of the Gedaenkstatte DORA at Nordhausen. In 1993
> (when Gravity's Rainbow was translated into German)they arranged a
> conference of literary scholars and survivors from the camp, as I understood
> it. There's a Conference Proceedings Publication I'd love to read!
>
> Inger H. Dalsgaard
>