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The book primarily covers the period from 1920 to 1962 and tells the life story of a man who broke free from the narrow, impoverished circumstances of a small Black Forest town. Determination, intuition, diligence, discipline, and luck accompanied him on his journey, which led him, via the Traffic Pilots School (Berlin and List on Sylt) in 1931, to Eurasia in China, where he contributed to the establishment of Chinese civil aviation. He spent 31 years there during upheaval, war, and peace, getting to know China—his second home—like few other Europeans.

From 1951 to 1962, Max Springweiler served as the head of the charter division at the American-Chinese airline Civil Air Transport. During these 31 years, he lived in Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Macau, and Taipei.

Reports of crashes, technical details, and individual anecdotes, complemented by sketches, newspaper articles, photos, and other documents in the extensive appendix, provide insights into the fascinating and often perilous life of an aviator. The book offers an especially detailed portrayal of the life of Germans in Shanghai during and after the war.

For his contributions to international understanding and his efforts in evacuating civil war refugees by plane for the Lutheran Mission, he was honored by both the Nationalist Chinese and later the West German governments.

Whether it was a crash in the Baltic Sea, the first flight over the Gobi Desert, pursuits by Japanese forces, or rescue missions for missionaries, the author's love for flying and aircraft shines through in every story. His healthy skepticism about the reliability of others, his resulting independence, and his keen powers of observation often saved his life.

About The Autor

Max Springweiler was born December 8, 1906, the second eldest son of Company Secretary Otto Springweiler and his wife Friedericke, nee Gwinner, in the Black Forest town of Waldkirch.

At age 21 following his apprenticeship in fine mechanics, he left home, crossing the Alps on foot to seek work and found it at the Dornier Works in Marina di Pisa. Here for the first time he encountered the field of aviation that would determine his future life.

Following training at the Air Transport School in Berlin and List on Sylt he went to China as a radio operator - flight mechanic through Lufthansa with Eurasia Aviation Corporation. There he participated in the development of Chinese civil aviation.

During over 30 years there he came to know China, his second home, as few others knew it.

His services for international understanding and his work on the Lutheran World Mission airplane evacuating civil war refugees were recognized by the Nationalist Chinese and later by the Federal Republic of Germany. From 1951 to 1962 Max Springweiler was Director of Charter Operations for Chinese/American airline, Civil Air Transport, in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Following that position he went to Sydney with Lufthansa where he worked successfully for ten years as the Lufthansa representative for Australia and New Zealand.

In 1972 he returned to Waldkirch with his wife Ruth, nee Rau who also came from the Black Forest. She was trained as a druggist. They married in Hong Kong during 1937 and had two daughters. He lived for 22 more years in his hometown at the center of his large family and as host to his worldwide circle of friends.