Guenter Wendt, 85, 'Pad Leader' for NASA's moon missions, dies

[Notebook]

From the BBC Radio Four programme "Last Word", broadcast today, repeats on Sunday.

GUNTER WENDT

NASA engineer who has died aged 85.
For the pioneering American astronauts of the 1960s and 70s, the last face they saw before blast off was that of Gunter Wendt. The German born engineer was officially known as “Pad Leader” – which made him responsible for all the pre flight checks at the top of the rocket as it sat on the launch pad.
Matthew spoke to John Tribe, former NASA colleague and to the astronaut Jim Lovell.
Guenter Wendt was born Aug 28, 1923, and died May 3, 2010

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s7f9w#synopsis

Not sure if this is available outside the UK.

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Not sure if this is available outside the UK.

Confirmed available :thumbup:

 

[Notebook]

Excellent! 18:30 onward that clip.

N.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

During a tribute to her father, Norma Wendt reveals Guenter's ashes are flying to the Moon in 4-5 years. The Pad Leader is moon-bound.

Source.

 

[IronRain]

rest in piece Guenter.