Walter Mittelholzer †

Autor(en): [s.n.]

Objekttyp: Obituary

Zeitschrift: The Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK

Band (Jahr): - (1937)

Heft 810

PDF erstellt am: 01.10.2021

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http://www.e-periodica.ch May 22.NL), 1937. THE SWISS OBSERVER. 2219 Walter Mittelholzer "|" By ST.

own words, some chapters from the life of this experiences during his sensational flights. Up to remarkable man. — the end of .1936 Mittelholzer had covered nearly a million miles which he had taken Walter Mittelholzer born the 2nd of during over a was on thousand photographs. April, 1894, in St. Gall, where he received his schooling at the "Volks" and " Kantonsschule," A number of countries showered honours on later on lie made his apprenticeship as a photo- him ; he received the gold medals of the " Aero grapher. From his earliest years he was an en- Club de France," the " Ligue Internationale des thusiastic mountain climber, and his military Aviateurs ", the " Schweizerischen Aero-Clubs," career started with a mountain regiment. the " Oesterreichischen Aero-Clubs," etc., he was also a honorary member of the Swiss Aero-Club. In 1915 he was transferred to the Swiss Flying Corps, first as a photographer, and later In reading through the obituary notices in on as an observer, after a while he received a the English Press, I found that his merits as the commission, and from that moment he became founder and pioneer of new navigation methods one of the most daring and efficient military were not sufficiently appreciated, undoubtedly pilots of the Swiss Army. owing to the fact, that most of the scientific in- struments so necessary for efficient navigation Shortly after the war he founded, together purposes have been until recently almost un- with Alfred Comte, the first commercial Air known here. Yet, it was Mittelholzer who was in Transit concern in Switzerland, the " Aero," this this branch of aviation, in the real sense of the company, which undertook passenger flights, word, a pioneer, and this side of his work will specialised at the same time in Air Photography, undoubtedly receive general appreciation in the and it was there, where Mittelholzer began his future. As far back as 1936 " The Aeroplane " career as an Air photographer ; which in later wrote, that Mittelholzer " has trained his pilots years made him not only famous as a pilot but to use only the precise radio-navigation methods equally so as the producer of wonderful views which are becoming recognised as the only precise taken from the Air in all parts of the world. safe technique for European air transport in the (Many of his Alpine views appeared in the Swiss future." The up-to-date equipment for naviga- Observer in the last three Anniversary numbers.) tion purposes installed in all " Swissair " ma- chines due Two years later the " Aero " concern was were largely to his initiative based on amalgamated with the " Ad Astra " Company years of experience and experiments ; thanks to from which the " Swissair " emerged of which him the flight-captain lias to-day snch a diversity he was technical Manager and Chief Pilot. — of auxiliary appliances at his disposal, that ac- cording to his capability and his experience, each " IV/ien /«fe Äa-s «I/oAustria) Persia. On this flight lie flew across the premier of a great number of articles 011 technical matters on a mountaineering expedition. To the moun- mountain in Persia, the ice-crowned Demavend, in connection with aviation. tains he wended his way whenever he was in need which towers to a height of 18,600 feet, this was * of a rest from his daily toils ; there in the Alpine the culminating achievement of the Persian flight, And now that is all ended, those hands which splendours he found solace, and in the stillness as he was the first to fly over it. gripped the joy-stick through hundreds of flights and vastness of the mountain world he received have grown cold, those keen and yet friendly eyes new inspirations and new vigour for his great During the years 1926/27 Mittelholzer under- will remain closed for ever, that faithful heart the of exploits. The plans for many a new venture were took his first Seaplane flight over length has ceased to beat ; far away from his country, thought out on these expeditions, and it is there- Africa landing at Cape Town where he received which lie loved with all his might, they carried fore all the more tragic that he should have found an official reception by the Lord Mayor. him in a simple wooden coffin from the mountain his death the mountains which he loved side down to the church of St. where amongst Two years later he was invited by Baron little Jlgen, so much. It seemed almost as if they had taken Louis de Rothschild, the well-known Austrian he waited for his last journey home. their revenge on him, for having conquered them sportsman, to fly him in as short a time as pos- Around his bier not only his and his 011 so many occasions by flying over their glitter- the the family sible from Cairo to Serengeti Plains, in many friends in all parts of the world ing peaks. They have embraced him 011 his last where he intended to do some mourn, Kilimanjaro region, but also his country of which he was snch a dis- wanderings and claimed him, and perhaps he big-game hunting. On this expedition he covered have wished a alas tinguished son. would not for better end, but 12,213 miles in a total flying time of 126 hours, it came all too soon, there was so much more for and for the first time Mount Kibo (the highest The memory of this really great man will do. him to — peak of Kilimanjaro, 19,320 feet) and Mount remain deeply engraved in the hearts of all those have 1 met Walter Mittelholzer for the first time Ivenja (17,000 feet) were flown over, some of the who known him. some four years ago, when I had the privilege to most wonderful pictures were taken on this ocea- lunch with him at Croydon, in company with a sion. friend of mine. This first meeting left a SWISS EXCHANGE good In December 1930 Mittelholzer flew across TRAINS. and impression 011 111e ; although great lasting the Sahara to Lake Chad (15,000 miles). As knows a considerable small in stature and unassuming in his bearings, everyone number of our English friends go to Switzerland each one was at once struck by the dynamic force made his History was by one-day flight from year for their holidays. This Summer, owing to which seemed to him, his eyes were the 011 20th possess Zurich to Africa and back May 1933, the more favourable exchange value of the £ and of a ; since then have met him eyes conqueror I covering 2,800 miles in exactly fifteen flying the better economic several times at lectures in the Swiss Colony and conditions in Great Britain, hours, which corresponds to a straight-line dis- the number of English visitors to at a Journalist's conference in Fleet Street. is his our country It tance from London to Bagdad or to Nigeria, will reach record figures. Our Trans- a heart take to probably with heavy that I up my pen average flying speed was 187 m.p.h. both Federal and write these obituary notes. — port Undertakings, private, and A later, lie flew to Abyssinia landing at the " Fremdenindustrie " as a whole are looking reviewed his book, year forward to better times. need and deserve When, two years ago, I Addis Ababa covering a distance of 4,500 miles, They 1 them. " Flying Adventures," in this paper, repro- where he was personally congratulated by the late duced the which was written by Lord preface Emperor of Abyssinia, Hailé Selassie. lies in the nature of things that Beaverbrook, and can do no better than to re- It holiday I traffic is rather onesided. Whilst there is a steady peat is a testimonial of one famous man to These the more flights it, it are only important flow, and at times even a rush, of English visitors another : he which undertook, space prevents me from to Switzerland, the number of Swiss folk the thousand miles which he coming Walter Mittelholzer is one of the most mentioning many to this country 011 pleasure bent is comparatively flew otherwise and especially on the routes of the intrepid and skilful air pilots in the World. small. For some years past, the Commercial Swissair as a To with Mittelholzer was His intrepidity is not based on rashness, how- pilot. fly Service of the Swiss Federal Railways in Berne both a pleasure and an education. ever, but on cool calculation and a profound have made a commendable effort to improve the knowledge of the science of flying. Perhaps mention should also be made of his balance. In order to " repay the compliment " to our visitors from abroad, and realizing full Many and many a mile have I travelled flight, carrying mail from Zurich to Naples- Athens, Istambul and Belgrad, and the many well that " Travel should be both ways," they are with him, and many more I hope to travel in so-called the Swiss ; one of the latter periodically organising " Exchange days to come. For when you journey on high flights over Alps on " that in he nearly lost his life when his machine crashed Trains (Austauschextrazüge) from Switzerland with Mittelholzer you grow confident, to other European countries, and character he is the embodiment of into the mountain side on a return journey from including England. spirit Their is twofold : first, is a practical the seamen of the sixteenth Milan to Zurich ; for three months he was help- purpose it great English of showing our English cousins that we take century. less in .bed until his frozen fingers and doubly way fractured thigh bone were sufficiently healed to an interest in their land and appreciate them, One day a historian of the air will arise permit him to undertake further flights. not only as good clients, but also as our hosts in who will make his own name and fame by des- their own country. Then, these trains give the cribing the grand career of Mittelholzer. In During the last few years he gave many Swiss people themselves an excellent chance of the meantime, we are fortunate to have, in his lectures both at home and abroad, relating his seeing and " doing " this truly great Metropolis