Robert Kronfeld

Robert Kronfeld (May 5 1904 - February 12 1948) was an Austrian gliding champion and sailplane designer of the 1920s and 30s.cite web
title = VERFOLGT - VERTRIEBEN - ERMORDET-ZUR MAHNENDEN ERINNERUNG DURCH STRASSENBENENNUNGEN IN WIEN 23.
author= Heide Liebhart
url= http://david.juden.at/kulturzeitschrift/44-49/48-verfolgt.htm
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ]

Kronfeld was born in Vienna, the son of a dentist. As a young man, he visited the Wasserkuppe in Germany and became passionate about the sport of gliding that was developing there. He befriended Walter Georgii, who was a meteorologist working at the nearby Darmstadt University of Technology and who had recently discovered thermals. Kronfeld became something of a test-pilot for Georgii, investigating this still-new phenomenon with the assistance of a variometer disguised as a vacuum flask.

In 1926, the German newspaper "Grüne Post" offered a DM 5,000 prize for the first glider pilot to fly 100 km (62.5 miles). Kronfeld took up the challenge and selected a long chain of hills, the Teutoburger Wald as a promising site for the record attempt. [cite web
title =15.05.1929
author= Deutsches Segelflugmuseum, Wasserkuppe
url= http://www.segelflugmuseum.de/index.php?id=4351&psid=5ac306cd50d690a2e7590ee018465a4c
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] He took off in a glider of his own design, named "Wien ("Vienna")" , assisted by bungee, near Ibbenbüren. After a flight lasting over five hours, he landed near Detmold, 102.5 km away. Kronfeld used the prize money to build a gigantic sailplane, named "Österreich ("Austria")" , which had a wingspan of 30 metres - a record not to be matched until the end of the twentieth century. Kronfeld was the first winner of the Hindenburg-trophy in 1929. [cite web
title = 04.06.1929
author= Deutsches Segelflugmuseum, Wasserkuppe
url= http://www.segelflugmuseum.de/index.php?id=4319&psid=5ac306cd50d690a2e7590ee018465a4c
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] In the same year he undertook the first flight from a mountain in Lower Austria. He also staged large air shows.By 1930 he held the world records for distance (164 km) and height (2,589 m).cite web
title = Kronfeld, Robert
author=
url= http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.k/k877641.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=en
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] On February 15,1931 Robert Kronfeld and Wolf Hirth were the first men awarded with the "Silber C". [cite web
title = 1931
author= Deutsches Segelflugmuseum, Wasserkuppe
url= http://www.segelflugmuseum.de/index.php?id=4537&psid=5ac306cd50d690a2e7590ee018465a4c
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] cite web
title = Pioniere des Segelflugs Robert Kronfeld
author= Deutsches Segelflugmuseum, Wasserkuppe
url= http://www.segelflugmuseum.de/index.php?id=4291&psid=5ac306cd50d690a2e7590ee018465a4c
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ]

On June 20,1931 Kronfeld flew as the first glider pilot his glider across the English Channel in both directions.cite web
title = ROBERT KRONFELD 1904-1948
author=
url= http://phila-partner.de/Kronfeld%20Robert.htm
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ]

In 1933, the new Nazi government prohibited Jews from flying, and as a Jew, Kronfeld fled Germany first for Austria, later for the United Kingdom. There, he continued flying and in 1937 became chief instructor for the newly-founded Oxford University and City Gliding Club.

Kronfeld was a Air Scout within the Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund and took part in the 4th World Scout Jamboree in Hungary as a member of the Austrian contingent. He participated in the Air Scout camp and participated in the Airshow. [cite book
last = Pribich
first = Kurt
title = Logbuch der Pfadfinderverbände in Österreich
publisher = Pfadfinder-Gilde-Österreichs
date = 2004
location = Vienna
pages = 104
language = German] . He was Commissioner for Air Scouts of the Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund. [cite book
author = Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund
title = Unser Weg Die Pfadfinderzeitung Festschrift
publisher = Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund/Verlag für Jugend und Volk
date = 1957
location = Vienna
pages = 10
language = German]

Kronfeld was also a member of the Österreichischer Aero Club and brougth the records of this association to the United Kingdom. [cite book
last = Portisch
first = Hugo
title = Österreich II-Die Geschichte Österreichs vom 2.Weltkrieg bis zum Staatsvertrag Band 3: Ein Volk, ein Reich-kein Österreich
publisher = Wilhelm Heyne Verlag
date = 1993
location = Vienna-Munich
pages = 328
language = German]

In 1939 he became a British citizen and during World War II he served in the Royal Air Force. He hold the rank of a Squadron Leader. He was awarded with the Air Force Cross.cite journal
title = Zwischen Mut und Ueber-Mut
journal = DER SPIEGEL
issue = 8/1948
pages = 18
publisher = SPIEGEL-Verlag
date = 1948-02-21
language = German
url = http://wissen.spiegel.de/wissen/dokument/dokument.html?id=44415710&top=SPIEGEL
accessdate =2008-06-27 ]

Kronfeld, as test pilot for General Aircraft was killed in the crash of an experimental flying wing glider, the General Aircraft GAL 56 near Lasham Airfield.

Memory and legacy

There are streets named after Robert Kronfeld in Detmold ("Robert-Kronfeld-Straße"), Fulda ("Robert-Kronfeld-Straße"), Oerlinghausen ("Robert-Kronfeld-Straße"), Gerasdorf ("Kronfeldgasse),Graz ("Kronfeldgasse) and Vienna ("Kronfeldgasse"). [cite web
title = 16.9.1959: Zehn neue Gassen in Inzersdorf
author= Rathauskorrespondenz
url= http://www.wien.gv.at/ma53/45jahre/1959/0959.htm
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ]

The Robert-Kronfeld-Memorial Price ("Robert-Kronfeld-Gedächtnispreis") is awarded by the Segelflugschule Oerlinghausen, since 1979. [cite web
title = Robert-Kronfeld-Gedächtnispreis
author= aerokurier-online
url= http://www.aerokurier.rotor.com/akheft/Akh0002/Aeh0002.htm
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] "The-Robert-Kronfeld-Cup was awarded by the State Government of Austria on the occasion of the 21st World Gliding Championships 1989 in Wiener Neustadt." [cite web
title = Background about the Robert Kronfeld Challenge Cup
author= Fred Weinholtz
url= http://soaringweb.org/Awards/kronfeld_weinholtz.html | accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] It is also named The Robert Kronfeld Challenge Cup. [cite web
title = The Robert Kronfeld Challenge Cup
author=
url= http://soaringweb.org/Awards/wgc_trophies.html
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] There is also a Robert Kronfeld-contest ("Robert-Kronfeld-Wettbewerb") organized by the Segelflugschule Oerlinghausen. [cite web
title =Kronfeld-Wettbewerb
author= Segelflugschule Oerlinghausen
url= http://www.segelflugschule-oerlinghausen.de/index.php?id=30
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] [cite web
title =Sieger des Robert-Kronfeld-Wettbewerbs 2006 geehrt. 06.11.2006
author= Segelflugschule Oerlinghausen
url= http://www.flugplatz-oerlinghausen.de/index.php?id=14&idp=143
language = German
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ]

In 1961 the Robert Kronfeld Memorial flight from Innsbruck to Kufstein ("Kronfeld-Gedächnissegelflug") took place and a special cachet was issued commemorating this flight.In 1994 a special cachet was issued commemorating Robert Kronfeld 90th Birthday.

An Air Scout group of the Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund in the 60ties was named Robert Kronfeld.

References

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