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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
R. Mazander

Captain Rudiger (Rudi) Mazander served in the German Airforce (Luftwaffe) from April 1957 to September 1966 flying the F-84- F and the F-104-G Starfighter. During this time the Cold War was at
its height and he sat 'Quick Reaction Alert' during the crises points of the building of the Berlin Wall (1961) and the Cuban Missile Crises (1962). On May 16, 1962, Captain Mazander ejected successfully from a burning F-84-F using the new Martin-Baker ejection seat. On September 17, 1966 he immigrated to the United States of America, joining United Airlines as an Airline Pilot. Serving with United for over 30 years he flew DC-6, B-727, DC-8, Caravelle, B-737, B-747, DC-10 and B-767 transport aircraft before mandatory retirement on February 1, 1997. Over his career Rudi made many friends, including a United Captain (who, as a bomber pilot in World War II, had bombed young Rudi's hometown, missing his house). Naturally Rudi congratulated him later - when flying as his copilot - on his lack of accuracy during that mission in 1944.