Sir, - Apropos your note on the late Frank Whittle by Charles Arthur (August 10th), it is with no disrespect to the genius of Whittle to point out that, at about the same time and quite independently, a turbojet engine with centrifugal compressor was designed by Hans von Ohain in Germany. The young Dr Hans, backed by Erns Heinkel, tested his first engine in April 1936, a year before Whittle tested his WU engine in England.
Von Ohain's developed engine was installed in the Heinkel S-3b. On August 27th 1939, at Marienehe, Flugkapitlin Erich Warsitz lifted the little aircraft into the world's first jet powered flight. Whittle's Gloster €28/39 made its maiden flight on May 15th 1941.
It is, of course, well known, especially to Allied war pilots, that the Luftwaffe put various jet fighters into active service during the last year of the second World War, whereas the Allies were too late to reciprocate. Patriotism is a great virtue, but it is subject to the truth. - Yours, etc.,
Bothar na Mine,
Galway.