Fritz Gosslau

Fritz Gosslau
Born	Template:Birth date Berlin, Germany
Died	December 1, 1965(1965-12-01) (aged 67) Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany
Occupation	Engineer
Known for	Development of the V-1 flying bomb

Fritz Gosslau (25 March 1898 – 1 December 1965) was a German engineer recognized for his contributions to the development of the V-1 flying bomb.

Education

Born in Berlin, Gosslau completed his engineering education in 1923, earning a diploma from the Königliche Technische Hochschule in Berlin-Charlottenburg, now known as Technische Universität Berlin. He achieved his doctorate in 1926 with a dissertation titled Rechnerische und experimentelle Untersuchungen über Wärmebeherrschung und Leistungssteigerung in luftgekühlten Flugmotorenzylindern, which focused on computational and experimental analysis of heat management and performance enhancement in air-cooled aircraft engine cylinders.

Career

In the 1930s, Gosslau was engaged in aircraft engine development at Siemens. When Siemens ceased its aircraft engine production, he transitioned to Argus Motoren Gesellschaft. There, he contributed to the design of the Argus As 410 and 411 engines and was involved in creating a powerful 24-cylinder air-cooled engine delivering 3,500 horsepower.

Early in 1937, Gosslau proposed a concept for a remote-controlled, unmanned missile intended for specialized military applications. This remotely operated target aircraft successfully flew for the first time on 14 July 1939. Later that year, on 9 November 1939, he suggested developing a wing-mounted motorized missile capable of traveling several hundred kilometers with high precision guided by radio navigation. This missile employed a pulse jet engine (Pulsationsschubrohres), which Gosslau refined into a dependable propulsion system by the time mass production began.

Starting in 1942, Gosslau joined the development team for the Fieseler Fi 103, commonly known as the V1—an unmanned missile carrying an explosive payload. Towards the conclusion of World War II, he became involved with adapting this weapon for use as a manned suicide device and is associated with founding the Leonidas Squadron.

Following the war, Gosslau took on the role of chief designer at motorcycle manufacturer Dürkopp beginning in 1948. In 1954, he joined Heinkel Flugzeugwerke, overseeing new engine development projects. After the engine divisions of Heinkel and Messerschmitt were acquired by Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke in 1958, Gosslau served as a director at Junkers until 1963. At that time, Junkers transitioned into a stock company based in Munich, where he became part of the technical board.

Gosslau passed away at age 67 in Grünwald, Bavaria.

External links

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