German text:

In seiner Lehrzeit als Schlosser widmete er sich nebenher eifrig dem Studium der technischen Wissenschaften, Dank seiner ungewöhnlichen Begabung hatte er es leicht, sich in der Grossfirma M.A.N. im Dieselmotorenbau auszubilden.

English Translation:

During his apprenticeship as a machinist, he diligently studied the techncal sciences on the side. Due to his unusual degree of talent, it was easy for him to learn how to build diesel engines at M.A.N. corporation. 



Will Astonish World.

“The new one I am making now will be
far better than the last one. For I have

profited by my mistakes and, when com-

pleted, it will astonish the world. It will
have the finest engine ever made, one I in-
vented and constructed myself, and its pow-
er, considering the weight, will be far greater

than that of any engine in existence.

“Since I was a boy, going to high school
in Augsburg, Germany, where I acquired
some knowledge of mechanics and engineer-

ing, I have had the idea of a flying machine

in my mind and then I made up my mind that

I would some day be like the birds I was so

fond of watching. After leaving school I
went to sea and sailed around the world
five times.

“I remember once watching the big condors

flying off the South American coast and try-

ing to understand how they did it. I used to

study the gulls too, as they would soar

against the wind with outstretched planes

moving apparently without the slightest

effort.

Mr. Whitehead has been making air ships

since he was six years old. His first one

was constructed at that early age out of

his grandmother’s Sunday parasol. That
was in far off Bavaria. After passing

through the high school of Ausperg, the

youthful inventor became discontented with

his slow xxxxxxx and started about the

globe on a maritime career. He saw a good

deal of foreign countries and peoples, finally

settling down in America as offering the best

base for his aerial enterprises, making trips

to England and Europe however, as occa-

sion demanded to keep in touch with aero-

nautical progress achieved under Maxim

Zeppelin, Lilienthal and the ill fated Andrée

and others who are pioneers in this dan-

gerous and exciting sport which prom-

ses such xxxxxxx and practical results.



1951-08-14, Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung

1979-09-17, Der Spiegel, pp.82-86