Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain (December 14 1911-March 13 1998) was one of the inventors of jet propulsion, along with Frank Whittle. Born in Dessau, Germany, he earned a Ph.D. in Physics and Aerodynamics from the University of Göttingen
After receiving his degree in 1935, Ohain became the junior assistant of Robert Wichard Pohl , then director of the Physical Institute of the University of Göttingen.
In 1936, while working for Pohl, Von Ohain earned a patent on his version of jet engines. He then joined the Heinkel company in Rostock, Germany and, sponsored by Ernst Heinkel, developed a successful liquid-fueled engine, the HeS.3B engine , while Heinkel's firm designed an experimental aircraft for the engine to be installed in, the Heinkel He 178. This resulted in the first jet engine powered aircraft flight on August 27, 1939 near Rostock from the Heinkel Airfield. Von Ohain developed a second improved engine, the He S.8A, which was first flown on April 2, 1941. This engine design, however, was less efficient than one designed by Anselm Franz, which powered the Me 262, the first operational jet fighter.
In 1947 von Ohain was brought to the United States by Operation Paperclip and went to work for the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In 1956 he was made the Director of the Air Force Aeronautical Research Laboratory and by 1975 he was the Chief Scientist of the Aero Propulsion Laboratory there.
In 1991 von Ohain and Whittle were awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize for their work on turbojet engines.
