Walter Riedel
Walter Riedel is a German name and may refer to:
- Walter Riedel (1897–1949), German politician (NSDAP), mayor of Werl
- Walter Julius Hermann "Papa" Riedel (1902–1968), German engineer and rocket designer („Riedel I“), Dipl.-Ing., recipient of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross (1944)
- German rocket engineer who first worked for the Heylandt Company (Heylandt Gesellschaft für Apparatebau) since 1929, where he became assistant to Max Valier who, together with Arthur Louis Hugo Rudolph (1906–1996), was building rocket-powered cars. Their promising collaboration came to an unfortunate end on 17 May 1930 when trials of a modified engine caused a violent explosion. A jagged piece of steel severed Valier's aorta, and the inventor bled to death in Rudolph's arms. Despite this setback, the team continued to experiment with rocket-engine designs, eventually creating in 1931 an improved version with more efficient fuel injection and the use of fuel as a coolant for the outside of the exhaust nozzle and combustion chamber. Walter Riedel also collaborated with Rudolph and Alfons Pietsch to build a 20 kgf liquid propellant engine for the "Heylandt Raketenauto", which was issued at Berlin-Tempelhof Airport. Riedel then moved to Wernher von Braun's rocket team. In January 1934, "Papa" Riedel was hired for rocketry work at Kummersdorf. In March 1936, Wernher von Braun and Walter Riedel began thinking about a much bigger rocket than the A-3 and, along with Walter Dornberger, began studying plans for Peenemünde. Riedel became the head of the Design Office of the Army Research Center Peenemünde and the chief designer of the V-2 rocket. Not to be confused with Walther Riedel, Director of the Karlshagen Development Works, who was involved with development of the sea-launched version of the V-2. Unrelated to his contemporary rocket engineer Klaus Riedel ("Riedel II"). Moved by the British to Saenger's facility in Trauen in early 1946 to conduct rocket engine tests there. Tests were completed on 16 June 1946. The crater Riedel on the Moon was co-named for him and the German rocket pioneer Klaus Riedel. Another Riedel was Walther Johannes Riedel (1903-1974; "Riedel III"), manager and engineer who managed development of V-2 rocket engine after the death of Walter Thiel in 1943 (Operation Hydra). In the USA (Operation Paperclip) he transferred this technology to Rocketdyne, which led to the engines for the Redstone, Thor, Jupiter, Atlas, and Saturn I rockets.
- Walter Riedel (b. 4 June 1914 in Elsterberg), Oberwachtmeister der Schutzpolizei, member of the Polizeibataillon 304 Chemnitz (Platoon and squad leader, 1st and 4th platoon/1st company), sentenced to death and executed on 12 April 1946 in Chemnitz
- Walter Riedel (1919–1943), German officer and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in WWII
- Walter E. Riedel (b. 1936), German-Canadian, translator and Canadian linguist with a focus on German-Canadian literature
