Cambridge Research Center (as it was then called) where he was the leader of the
meteorological equipment development program for the Air Force. From 1958 to
1961 he managed research at Teledynamics, Inc. In 1961 he was appointed as the
inaugural Director of the National Scientific Balloon Facility at the newly formed
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). In 1965 he set up the Global
Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) to develop long- duration balloons.
In addition to heading up the national program to develop facilities for scientific ballooning, Lally made a number of major contributions to the use of balloons
as a vehicle for making atmospheric measurements. He authored over 30 papers
on instrumentation, ballooning, and navigation techniques. He wrote the definitive
publication on super-pressure balloons, as well as chapters in several handbooks
on ballooning and atmospheric sounding systems.
Otto C. Winzen
Born October 24, 1917
Died November 2, 1979
He was a German American innovator and a visionary who is best known for
introducing new balloon materials and construction methods. In particular, he pioneered the use of polyethylene resin for plastic balloons.
He immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1937 and spent the Second World
War in a series of internment camps. He studied aeronautical engineering at the
University of Detroit, where he met his wife, Vera Habrecht. After the war, he
became involved with the rebirth of high altitude ballooning and paired up with
Jean Piccard at General Mills, Inc., in Minneapolis.
Winzen left General Mills in 1949 to found Winzen Research, Inc., with the
help of Vera, who played a key role as vice-president and chief of production.
In the 1950’s, the company sold plastic balloons to the U.S. Navy on Project
Helios, Skyhook, and Strato-Lab. It also sold plastic balloons to the U.S. Air Force
on a secret reconnaissance mission to overfly Russia codenamed MOBY DICK.
On moving the manufacturing plant to Texas and selling off company stock to his
272 Appendix 2: Scientists and Engineers in Ballooning
meteorological equipment development program for the Air Force. From 1958 to
1961 he managed research at Teledynamics, Inc. In 1961 he was appointed as the
inaugural Director of the National Scientific Balloon Facility at the newly formed
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). In 1965 he set up the Global
Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) to develop long- duration balloons.
In addition to heading up the national program to develop facilities for scientific ballooning, Lally made a number of major contributions to the use of balloons
as a vehicle for making atmospheric measurements. He authored over 30 papers
on instrumentation, ballooning, and navigation techniques. He wrote the definitive
publication on super-pressure balloons, as well as chapters in several handbooks
on ballooning and atmospheric sounding systems.
Otto C. Winzen
Born October 24, 1917
Died November 2, 1979
He was a German American innovator and a visionary who is best known for
introducing new balloon materials and construction methods. In particular, he pioneered the use of polyethylene resin for plastic balloons.
He immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1937 and spent the Second World
War in a series of internment camps. He studied aeronautical engineering at the
University of Detroit, where he met his wife, Vera Habrecht. After the war, he
became involved with the rebirth of high altitude ballooning and paired up with
Jean Piccard at General Mills, Inc., in Minneapolis.
Winzen left General Mills in 1949 to found Winzen Research, Inc., with the
help of Vera, who played a key role as vice-president and chief of production.
In the 1950’s, the company sold plastic balloons to the U.S. Navy on Project
Helios, Skyhook, and Strato-Lab. It also sold plastic balloons to the U.S. Air Force
on a secret reconnaissance mission to overfly Russia codenamed MOBY DICK.
On moving the manufacturing plant to Texas and selling off company stock to his
272 Appendix 2: Scientists and Engineers in Ballooning