Not to be confused with Walter Riedel, another German rocket engineer.
Walther Johannes Riedel (January 23, 1903 - November 16, 1974) was a rocket engineer who worked on the German V-2 and Wasserfall rockets before later working for North American Aviation.
During the US occupation of Germany, Riedel was arrested and jailed.[4] German rocket scientists including Riedel were sent to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip.[5] In 1946, he was profiled for cooperating with authorities at Fort Bliss, Texas.[6] One article featured Riedel's complaints that American food was tasteless compared to that of his native Germany.[7][8] On December 30, Albert Einstein and the American Federation of Scientists authored a letter in protest.[8] Riedel was employed by North American Aviation which sought to recreate and improve upon the V-2.[9]
In 1949, the United Press quoted Riedel's prediction of space ships in 25 years.[10]
He was against profiled in 1949 for his work at North American Aviation's plant in Downey, California.[11][12] Letters to the editor featured a complaint about the piece's positive treatment of Riedel.[13][8]
In 1953, he was denounced by fellow NAA employee Victor Black, leading to an interview with the CIA.[14]
He returned to West Germany and died in Hamburg in 1974.[15]