August Euler

August Euler (20 November 1868 – 1 July 1957) was a pioneer German aviator, aircraft constructor and the holder of the first German pilot's license, issued in 1909.[1] After the First World War, he became German Secretary of State for Air, until he retired in 1922.[2]

Memorial at August-Euler airport

Euler was born at Oelde in Westphalia and was educated at Oelde and at public schools in Cologne and Aachen and from 1885 started a career in engineering.[2] He worked for Seidel & Neumann, originally a sewing machine company, which later made cycles and motor cars. Euler took up cycle racing and then motor racing and became interested in aviation.[2] In 1908 he started a company to build Voisin aircraft under licence. In February 1908 August Euler erected a building on the site of the Griesheim Airport, which he relocated from Mainz castle, costing him 2,400 Marks. In that building he began aircraft production. In 1910 he set a German flying duration record by staying airborne for 3hr 6min. 18sec [3] On 31 December 1909 he obtained German Pilot's brevet No. 1 and started a flying school. Before the First World War he moved his factory to Frankfurt and helped set up a German aircraft manufacturers' association.[2] After the war he was appointed Secretary of State for Air with instructions to create a ministry for transportation, but with the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty they had little to do, and when the treaty was ratified in 1920 Euler resigned.[2]

Euler built a house in the Black Forest on the Feldberg mountain where he lived in retirement until his death in 1957.[2] Although his services were requested by the Nazi government during the Second World War he resisted due to his age and remained retired.[2] He was associated with many of the country's motoring and aviation associations and received many honorary distinctions for his early work.[2]