History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 230

FLEMISH-AMERICAN HEROES
This is a sample of the short biographies and pictures that have appeared over the
years in the Flemish American Heritage calendar.
Karel Jan Bossart, known as the "father of the Atlas missile"
Bro. Severing Vermandere contributed to choral singing in Quebec
Camille Cools, founder, editor and publisher of the Gazette van Detroit
Edward Coryn, founder of the "Gazette van Moline" and Consul in Moline, Ill.
Charles John Seghers, the Apostle of Alaska
Father Damien de Veuster, missionary of Molokai
Maestro Desire Defauw
Father Pieter Jan DeSmet, the "Great Blackrobe"
Peter Malou, revolutionary, priest, and granddad to a prime minister
Fr. Hennepin, first European to see Niagara Falls
George W. Goethals, builder of the Panama Canal
Sylvia Parmentier, philanthropist
Louis C. Rabaut, Congressman from Detroit
Jan Yoors, anti-Nazi, Gypsy, Tapestry weaver, filmmaker
Marguerite Yourcenar, novelist
Rene DeSeranno, Consul
Leon Buyse, after whom a library is named

Karel Jan Bossart, known as the "father of the Atlas Missile", was born in Antwerp,
Belgium on February 9, 1904. He graduated from the University of Brussels in 1925 as
a mining engineer. He applied for a scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of
Technology under the Belgian American Education Foundation which he got with the
proviso that he learn English which he did in just six weeks. At MIT he turned to
aeronautics, specializing in structures.
His association with Atlas and its predecessor, the MX-774 research rocket, began
when Convair, now a division of General Dynamics, entered the missile field after
World War II. Bossart was assigned to the program as project engineer. When the Air
Force canceled the contract with Convair due to budget difficulties, Bossart persuaded
his company to pursue work on the missile with its own funds. The experience he and
his team gained during the next few years, later proved invaluable when it he US
Government again decided to speed up work on missile. Successful tests were
carried out with the MX-774 in 1948 which proved to Bossart that the swiveling engine
idea for large missiles was the correct approach.
With the MX-774, Bossart and h is team had designed and constructed the first known
supersonic intercontinental missile research vehicle in the world and the first
successfully tested postwar rocket in the US.

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