Gerhard Eggers Wiki

A grand seigneur of German aviation and spaceflight

Galerie

Images from the family archive, the biography by Karsten Eggers and historical sources. Most photographs come from the private estate.

The Eggers family in Rostock, 1915. Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers sits in front, between his parents.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers in front of a Junkers W33 during his pilot training with the Luftwaffe.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers (second from right) with fellow flight students in front of a Junkers aircraft.
School-leaving certificate (Zeugnis der Reife) of Gerhard Martin Friedrich Eggers, Realgymnasium zu Rostock, issued on 15 September 1930.
Kurt and Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers as students, circa 1930/31.
Factory grounds and airfield of the Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke in Dessau, 1937.
Junkers Ju 86, high-altitude reconnaissance variant (Ju 86 P/R), in whose development Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers was involved at Junkers. Illustration from a Junkers data sheet.
Large communal dormitory in a former garage of the Cité in Decize, the provisional first accommodation for the German families, circa 1946.
Design office of the Ateliers Aéronautiques de Decize; Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers seated at the desk.
Group photograph of the “Atarier” (staff of the ATAR engine group) in front of the central entrance of the Bâtiment C in the Cité of Decize.
Delivery of firewood for the winter in the Cité of Decize, with Bâtiment D in the background on the left and Bâtiment C on the right, 1946.
New Year’s Eve celebration 1946 in the kitchen of the Eggers family in Decize.
German prisoners of war in the prison camp near the Cité of Decize, which was separated from the residential settlement by a barbed-wire fence.
Fistball game among the staff in the Cité of Decize; left to right: S. Decher, A.W. Quick, Prof. Hertel, Dr. O. Frenzl, Dr. G. Richter, E. Haberkorn, and others.
Egg-and-spoon race for young and old at the summer festival in Decize; in the middle Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers (“Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers”), 2nd from right S. Decher.
Children in a relay race with a baton in front of the residential blocks of the Cité in Decize, identified by the author of the memoir as “that’s me” (front).
Group photograph of the numerous German children in the Cité of Decize, 1947.
Children in angel costumes at the Christmas celebration in the factory canteen of Decize.
Spectators at the Christmas celebration in the canteen of the Cité of Decize.
The Eggers family camping at the campsite of Saint-Aygulf on the Côte d’Azur, their first holiday trip, 1948.
Hildegard Eggers with her children in the Botanical Garden of Monaco, holiday trip 1948.
Hand-drawn caricature on a birthday card for Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers from his colleagues, Decize, 6 July 1949 (an allusion to the ATAR 101 engine).
Signatures of the colleagues on the birthday congratulations card for Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers, Decize, 6 July 1949, among them Erich Haberkorn.
Children playing boules during the visit to the Hertel family in Aix-en-Provence, 1949.
Communal meal outdoors during a visit to the Hertel family in Aix-en-Provence, 1949.
Bus excursion along the Grande Corniche near Nice with an SNCF bus, 23 August 1949; the Eggers family is on the right.
French driving licence of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers, issued on 22 May 1950 in Decize.
The Eggers family on a harbour tour in Hamburg, summer 1950.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers with his family on the beach at Saint-Aygulf during their tour of France, summer 1951.
The family with their Renault 4CV on the Côte Vermeille, summer 1951.
The Eggers family at the harbour of Collioure, summer 1951.
Swimming on the Atlantic coast during the camping trip through France, summer 1951.
Visit to the Grotto of Lourdes during the tour of France, summer 1951.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers (son) with his group at the SNECMA’s colonie de vacances in Villers-sur-Mer, 1951.
The parents visiting the holiday camp on the English Channel coast, 1952.
The Eggers family with their new Peugeot 203 during the visit to the holiday camp, 1952.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers with his son and the car at a chance encounter with Mr. Töldte (who was travelling on his Vespa) in southern France, 1953.
Residence permit (Carte de séjour de résident privilégié) of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers, issued in 1953 in Decize, with a profile passport photo.
Carnival procession of the children in the Cité SNECMA in Dammarie-les-Lys, accompanied by a father with a guitar.
Private tennis court of the Cité SNECMA in Dammarie-les-Lys.
Spectators at a tennis or table tennis tournament in the Cité SNECMA, Dammarie-les-Lys.
Playground of the Cité SNECMA in Dammarie-les-Lys; at the line, sister Birgit throws the ball.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers with his sisters and Gerhard Schneider in the Forest of Fontainebleau.
Uncle Kurt (brother of Eggers’ father) with his family visiting Freudenstadt.
The Schneider family visiting the Eggers family in Freudenstadt.
Confirmation day on 22 March 1959 in Avon near Fontainebleau, with the family.
The SNECMA “ATAR 101” turbojet engine on display at an exhibition.
Flying test bed Bloch 161 “Languedoc” with “ATAR” engines mounted beneath the fuselage.
Republic F-84 with auxiliary fuel tanks in front of the Focke-Wulf administration building in Lemwerder.
Fairey Gannet of the Bundesmarine in flight; an aircraft type maintained under contract by Focke-Wulf.
Hawker Siddeley Sea Hawk, one of the aircraft types of the Luftwaffe and Navy maintained under contract by Focke-Wulf.
Grumman Albatross in flight; an aircraft type of the Bundesmarine maintained under contract by Focke-Wulf.
Gathering during the “Kohl- und Pinkelfahrt” (traditional kale outing) of the Focke-Wulf development department, 25 February 1961; pictured among others are sister Heidrun and Gerhard Seibold.
Another group at the table during the 1961 “Kohl- und Pinkelfahrt”; on the left the mother, on the right Mechtild Czerwenka, in the foreground Gerhard Seibold.
Mrs. Schneider, Mr. Decher, and Mrs. Hertel at a private gathering on the occasion of a visit by an American Lycoming delegation, spring 1962.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers (Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers) with Prof. Hertel and A. Rothe at the celebration of his 50th birthday, 6 July 1962.
Dr. Czerwenka, Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers (Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers), and Dr. Seibold at the celebration of his 50th birthday, 6 July 1962.
Hildegard Eggers (Mutti), A. Rothe, and Mrs. Rothe at the celebration of the 50th birthday, 6 July 1962.
Rest stop in the Alps during the journey to Lake Garda, summer 1962.
Picnic of the Eggers family en route to Lake Garda, summer 1962.
Visit by Michael Czerwenka at the campsite on Lake Garda, summer 1962.
Family and acquaintances with an inflatable boat on the beach of Lake Garda, summer 1962.
The house of Prof. Hertel in Padenghe on Lake Garda, summer 1962.
Excursion to Garda; a convivial group at a café table under parasols, summer 1962.
After the thunderstorm at the campsite on Lake Garda: clearing up the soaked tent, summer 1962.
Grave of the Eggers family at the cemetery in Rostock, bearing the names Louis, Joachim, Margarete and Wilhelmine Eggers, as well as Anita Diehl, née Eggers.
Rocket engine test stand at the Trauen development site, as part of the ELDO space programme, 1963.
The Astris rocket stage together with the 2nd stage (Nord Aviation) in the test rig at VFW in Lemwerder.
Caravan production at the VFW plant in Hoykenkamp near Delmenhorst.
The family’s first caravan, a VFW-Fokker 40Q, set up in the woods, 1974.
View over the campsite at Grömitz on the Baltic Sea.
The Eggers family at the camping table in Grömitz (the daughter, Heidrun, mother, and father Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers).
A convivial evening at the Strandhalle in Grömitz with the family and a visit from Uncle Kurt.
Production of glass-fibre reinforced plastic bodies for Porsche at the VFW plant in Speyer, around 1965.
Formal induction of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers as “Commandeur d’Honneur” at a Franco-German company gathering near Bordeaux, February 1965.
Certificate of the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc et des Graves: induction of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers as Commandeur d’Honneur, February 1965.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers and General Bernard A. Schriever (Air Force Systems Command) during a plant visit in Bremen, October 1965.
Topping-out ceremony for the development building and test hall on 29 October 1965; Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers delivers the address.
The author’s parents at the restaurant of the mountain station during the ski holiday in St. Moritz, March 1966.
In front of the Bremen-Mitte registry office after the civil marriage of Karsten Eggers and Monika Lindemann, 1967.
The bridal couple at the reception following the church wedding at “Höpken’s Ruh”, 1967.
Group photograph of the bridal couple with parents and parents-in-law on the occasion of the wedding, 1967.
At the church exit: members of the rowing club “Dresdenia” form an oar arch for the bridal couple.
The new ERNO building on Hünefeldstraße, occupied in 1969.
The parental home of the Eggers family in Bad Zwischenahn.
Prof. G. Eggers at the „roll-out” of the Airbus in Toulouse.
Airbus A300B4-100 on the tarmac.
Airbus A310-200 of Lufthansa on final approach.
Airbus A320-100 of Air France in flight.
Wf-s64 helicopter by Weserflug Bremen in flight.
CH 53G transport helicopter of the Bundeswehr with ground crew.
VFW H2 gyrocopter shortly after takeoff, first flight on 30 April 1965.
VFW H3 gyrocopter in flight, first flight on 3 September 1970.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers (centre) with other gentlemen at the ILA Hannover 1970.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers in conversation with visitors at the ILA Hannover 1972.
Group of visitors at a display case at the ILA Hannover 1974.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers explains a model to visitors at the ILA Hannover 1974.
Wernher von Braun visits ERNO and VFW-Fokker in Bremen on 3 September 1971; Minister Leussink (centre) on 8 July 1971.
From left to right: Dr. Kappler, H. Schneider, Prof. W. von Braun, Prof. G. Eggers, Dr. Staats, G. Raeck.
Wernher von Braun (left) and Professor Eggers in the cockpit of the VFW 614 (Bunte Illustrierte, 13 July 1972).
ELDO visit to ERNO in Bremen on 23 March 1972. From left to right: Dr. Knieper, Prof. Eggers, General Aubinière, Dir. Hoffmann.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers sailing on Lake Zwischenahn, photograph for the newspaper article „Professor Eggers 60 Jahre” (ERNO aktuell 2/72).
Sister Birgit marries Dr. Hans Stange on 28 April 1973; wedding celebration in Zwischenahn.
Prof. G. Eggers welcomes Romania’s head of state Nicolae Ceaușescu during his state visit to Bremen on 29 June 1973.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers gives a lecture on the SPACELAB space laboratory at TU Karlsruhe, early January 1975.
Senate President H. Koschnik (right) welcomes Federal President Walter Scheel (left) during his visit to the VFW-Fokker plant in Bremen on 15 October 1974.
Reception at VFW-Fokker on the occasion of the visit of Federal President Scheel; on the left Prof. Riccius, on the right Dr. Stüssel.
Plant tour with Federal President Walter Scheel at the VFW-Fokker plant in Bremen, 1974.
Federal Minister Hans Matthöfer and Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers on the company premises in Bremen, 1975.
Portrait of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers, published in ERNO aktuell 2/74 on the occasion of his letter of thanks to the staff.
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers gives a table speech on the occasion of his 85th birthday, Zwischenahn, 6 July 1997
Prof. Staufenbiel, Wolfert, Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers and Prof. Haberland in conversation at the birthday celebration, 1997
Birthday celebration in the garden on the occasion of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers’ 85th birthday, 1997
Standing: Dr. Buschhorn, K. Eggers, Prof. Riccius, Wuckel; seated from left: H.W. Hoffmann, Prof. Öry, at the birthday celebration, 1997
ARIANE launch vehicle V100 on the launch pad at Kourou, French Guiana
Night launch of an ARIANE launch vehicle at Kourou
Test aircraft VFW 614 ATD (Aerospace Technologies Demonstrator) at its final roll-out, 20 July 1998, Bremen
The grandchildren of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers, from left: Stephan, Cornelia, Marc, Sylvie, Ralph, Kristina, Bernard; taken on 6 July 1997 on the occasion of his 85th birthday in Zwischenahn
Family grave of the Eggers family at the Zwischenahn cemetery, bearing the names Margareta Eggers, Hildegard Eggers, Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers and Emilie Koch
The Coléoptère C 450 in free flight, escorted by two observation helicopters over Melun-Villaroche airfield
The pilot and ground crew after a successful free flight of the Coléoptère C 450 on the airfield
Smoke cloud after the crash of the Coléoptère C 450 at Melun-Villaroche airfield, 25 July 1959
The Coléoptère C 450 on its transport and launch cart, SNECMA prototype, spring 1958
The Coléoptère C 450 being transported on a special vehicle to the launch site
Launch preparations for a Coléoptère C 450 test flight: final checks by the technicians
SNCF ground trials of the ATAR engine on the Pithiviers–Étampes line: diesel locomotive with a freight train during the two-week test series
German delegation with Gerhard and Hildegard Eggers at a dinner in Le Bourget, 1957 (2nd from left: Hildegard Eggers; centre: A. Rothe with his wife)
Farewell party in the garden on the occasion of the Eggers family’s return to Germany, 1959
Guests gathered at the farewell party in the garden, 1959
View across the garden during the farewell party, 1959
Pierre Lhoste, French engineer and long-time colleague of Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers in SNECMA’s Coléoptère group
The Eggers family’s Citroën ID 19 in front of the house at Schwachhauser Ring 41, Bremen
Aerial view of the Focke-Wulf works on Neuenlander Straße in Bremen, 1950s – only the halls to the left of Hall 20 were back in use, the rest still empty war ruins
Signing of the Spacelab contract in Paris, 30 September 1975; Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers on the left
Wernher von Braun visits ERNO/VFW-Fokker, Bremen, 3 September 1971
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers with Wernher von Braun in the cockpit of the VFW 614, 1972
Roll-out of the VAK 191B vertical take-off aircraft, Bremen, 24 April 1970
Hand-over of the ESRO declaration of contract at the Spacelab mock-up, 7 June 1974
Europa launcher at the Woomera range (Australia), 1968
Cutaway drawing of the Coléoptère C-450 with its annular wing
First free flight of the ATAR Volant, 30 March 1957
ELDO visit to Bremen, 23 March 1972 (incl. Prof. Eggers and General Aubinière)
High-level visit to ERNO and VFW-Fokker in Bremen, 1971
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers with General Bernard A. Schriever, Bremen
General Kammhuber taking an interest in vertical take-off (SNECMA)
First flight of the VFW 614 over the Weser near Bremen, 1971
The VFW 614 “D-BABA” taxiing for its first flight, 5 April 1971
Roll-out of the VFW 614 “D-BABA”, Bremen, 5 April 1971
VAK 191B in free hovering flight
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers speaking at the VAK 191B roll-out
Size comparison of Europa II, Europa III and ARIANE
Preparing a test flight for launch, SNECMA
The Coléoptère transported to the launch site on a special vehicle
Coléoptère fuselage without the annular wing on a railway wagon
SNECMA ATAR jet engine
Franco-German team at the ATAR Volant rig, G. Eggers on the right
Junkers Ju 288 – one of the Dessau projects
FW P.149D (Piaggio) – civil touring aircraft
Series production of the FW P.149D, Focke-Wulf Bremen
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter – co-produced by VFW
Transall C-160 transport aircraft, whose pre-series the works helped build
SG 1262 hover rig in free flight, Bremen airport
“Mein Ziel heißt Europa …” – Bunte Illustrierte, 13 July 1972
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers, portrait from “ERNO aktuell”
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers as co-pilot in the cockpit of the VFW 614
Certificate of the Médaille de l’Aéronautique, 1957
Presentation of the Médaille du Travail, SNECMA
Trilingual “Lettre de protection” from the French High Command, valid until 31 December 1946
French work and residence permit, Decize (1946–1953)
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers’ parents, c. 1910
Margarethe Eggers with Kurt (left) and Gerhard (right), 1913
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers as a grammar-school pupil, Rostock
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers (left) sailing
Visiting the Marxen family in Vaduz, 1966
Family gathering in Blankenese
Silver wedding of Gerhard and Hildegard Eggers, 1 July 1964
Golden wedding of the Eggers grandparents in the Munte am Stadtwald, 1960
Family holiday at the Grömitz campsite
The Eggers family at the beach (Heidrun, Hildegard and Gerhard)
Travelling by car in France, early 1950s
Holiday in France: overnight at the Motel Km 500 on the N7
“Atarier” reunion of SNECMA veterans, Munich 1982
Mayor H. Koschnick and Prof. G. Eggers during President W. Scheel’s visit to the Bremen works
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers’ grandchildren, 1997
On his 85th birthday in Bad Zwischenahn, 6 July 1997
The family’s former flat in Gernrode, 1991
Prof. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Eggers in front of his parental home in Rostock, 1992
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