Wernher von Braun

Wernher von Braun, with his arm in a cast, Walter Dornberger (on the left) and Bernhard Tessmann (on the right) surrendered to the Americans just before this May 3, 1945 photo.

Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) was a Nazi rocket scientist. He developed the V-2 ballistic missile during World War II. It had a sophisticated liquid fuel system and guidance systems.

After the war, he was recruited by the United States to build intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM's). He later moved to NASA, helping to design rockets to explore space. The Saturn V rockets were used to carry astronauts to the moon.

He was the inspiration for Peter Sellers' character in Dr. Strangelove.