Encomium for Hermann Betscher

Dear Hermann,

It is with great regret that we learned of your resignation from the leadership of the Historical Flight Research Committee Gustave Whitehead. Due to very serious health problems - an act of God - you had no other choice but to lay down the steersmanship. It was to all of the HFRC-GW and the Museum Team incom- prehensible when we heard, that you had to be taken by emergency helicopter to Neustadt Saale. All knew what this meant. Today we are glad and thankful that you have recovered so far, that you could be with us for this years general meeting.

On April 29, 1985, that is 21 years ago, the rudder was laid into your hands. You, Hermann, by election were appointed Chairman of the HFRC-GW. Erwin Kernstock as Treasurer, Heinz Kaysser as Secretary and Matthias Lechner as Vice Chairman were elected to stand by your side.

In the previous era hardly any Member Meetings were held, at least not in a way in which they should have been. Thus no minutes were kept, although the HFRC- GW was already founded as a Supportive Society as early as 1973.

How ever small and modest was the Beginning back in 1985. We actually ran after every little bit of any media information from all over the world, no matter how small, no matter from which media, no matter how negative or positive these were. But, that all changed fairly fast during your time of office. Noted Papers, Magazines and Journals such as the "Stern", "Spiegel", "Focus" etc. printed Articles, Reports and Write-ups, a number of them with Photos. Radio and Television Stations from far and near arranged appointments for interviews, recordings, shootings and filming.

TV films such as the "Der belächelte Pionier" (The Smiled upon Pioneer) by Helmar Spannenberger and "Ich flog vor den Wrights" (I Flew Before the Wrights) by Lore Prasch; both being a documentary reportage. Then the feature film "Eva - ganz mein Fall" (Eve - totally my Case), with the Movie Stars Siegfried Rauch and Lara Joy Koerner, became reality.

During your leadership we all learned how to "handle" Journalists, Reporters, TV- and Camera Teams. Fairly soon we found out who was playing an honest game with us and with the achievements of Whitehead.

The realization of an extension with improvements to the present "Aviation Pioneer Gustav Weisskopf Museum" was one of your chief aims. When then HFRC-GW's Project of a reproduction of "Whiteheads legendary Flying Machine No. 21" became reality, and it - the Nr. 21B - then actually flew, it was apparent that you together with your Team had established worldwide Aviation Pioneer Gustave Whitehead and his Pioneering Feats.

Highlights such as the exhibitions of the Reproduction of Whiteheads ingenious Flying Machine in the Ansbach Bruecken-Center, Fuerth City-Center, Weiden City- Center, International Airport Frankfurt a.M., Nuremberg Airport and others, gave prove of how well known Whitehead had become by then. The most significant highlight however was the invitation to participate - with the Reproduction of the "21" - at the ILA - the "International Luft- und Raumfahrtausstellung" = International Air Navigation and Space Flying Exhibition - in Berlin. That had meant for us and the Team proper planing, especially quite some manpower, but at virtually NO costs at all. Transport, Flights, Hotel, Taxi, Exhibition Stand etc. was all paid for. Yes, all of a sudden the HFRC-GW and Whitehead was on demand.
To make things short: All the baring Rock Massifs and other Obstacles which were to be overcome in order to get Recognition for Whitehead suddenly had given way.

Hermann, your Persistency, Skill and Tactic thawed - in the past 21 years - those Rock Massifs like Icebergs in the Tropical Sun.

For all of this - and far more - we want to express our sincere Thanks and Com- pliments from the bottom of our Hearts You truly deserve Recognition and Appre- ciation. I therefor, by Virtue of my Office, declare you an Honorary Chairman of the HFRC-GW. What better could we bestow upon you.

Matthias Lechner, Chairman, HFRC-GW
on the occasion of Hermann Betschers resignation from Office.

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