by Stephen T.
I was employed at Middle River in Baltimore, beginning in the late
1950s, when aircraft were still vital there. I met and interacted with several
aeronautical experts imported from Germany—unlike the more well-known examples
of imported rocket experts in Alabama. No unpleasant hints from the past ever
arose. For the record, they were Hans Multhopp, Peter Jordan, Fritz Vandrey and
Ingeborg Ginzel.
Mr. Multhopp probably made the biggest impact as a designer, since he
brought proven skills and experience from German fighters. Notable was the use
of T-tails. These now made their appearance in innovative military aircraft
built in Baltimore, but were never bought.
I saw a wood mock-up of a proposed close-ground support flying tank. The
production contract went elsewhere. Today, the Maryland National Guard flies essentially
the same aircraft from the Middle River Airport. It is known as the Warthog.
