Gregory Joseph Kessenich

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Gregory Joseph Kessenich (shortened: Gregory J. Kessenich ; born April 13, 1896 in Madison (Wisconsin) , † November 19, 1958 in Sanford (Florida) ) was an American inventor . Kessenich is known for his patent on the ammunition for the Bazooka anti-tank weapon .

Kessenich graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and studied law at Georgetown University . During World War I , Kessenich served in the United States Army ; from 1916 first on the Mexican border later in France . In 1923 he was employed as a civil engineering patent technical specialist in the Ordnance Department of the United States Department of War . Kessenich rose to become head of the patent department.

rocket propelled projectile with shaped charge warhead

During the Second World War , in early 1941, the US Army developed the M10, a rifle grenade with a shaped charge warhead for anti-tank purposes . However, this was so severe that the recoil damaged the rifle and endangered the shooter. Therefore the M10 should be able to be fired from a charge launcher that is still to be developed . However, the charge launchers shot the grenades forward in steep fire , which led to inadequate accuracy at point targets.

Since December 1940, Kessenich had known the work of Leslie Skinner , who developed portable missile weapons for the US military. Since the missile lacked an effective warhead, the US military initially had little interest. Kessenich combined in concepts: if the grenade had a rocket motor , then the strong recoil and the steep trajectory would be eliminated. At the beginning of August 1941, Kessenich presented his plans to Colonel Wiley T. Moore, who was responsible for the development of light weapons . Moore recognized the potential of this combination. Kessenich's drawings and information about shaped charges were sent to Leslie Skinner, who was developing missiles for the US military. This happened before Kessenich filed a patent. Because the Bazooka project was then classified as secret , Kessenich was denied patenting. As a civil employee, he might have a right to license claims for the patent. On February 14, 1944 he was allowed to apply for the patent under the number US2579323, which he only received in 1951. Kessenich discussed a license with the US Army, but after two years the talks failed because the US Army was not ready to recognize the claims. Because of health problems, Kessenich was retired in 1954 . In March 1955 he turned to the Court of Claims , but the Court of Claims rejected the request and followed the arguments of the US Army. Kessenich waived legal remedies to assert his claims, because he lacked the financial means and his health was compromised. Senator Everett Dirksen stood up for Kessenich and in 1960 obtained a Senate resolution to pay $ 100,000 to heirs of the late Kessenich. In a congressional resolution from 1963 it was further decided that in this case no tax is payable on the amount.

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Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Col. Kessenich, Bazooka Inventor, this at 62 in: Daytona Beach Morning Journal , November 20, 1958 [1]
  2. ↑ a b c Congressional Record Volume 106 — PART 11 June 23, 1960 to June 30, 1960, United States Government Printing Office , Washington, 1960, p. 75 [2]
  3. ^ Rottman: The Bazooka , 2012, pp. 12-13.
  4. ^ Rottman: The Bazooka , 2012, p. 13.
  5. ↑ Constance McLaughlin Green , Harry C. Thomson, Peter C. Roots: The Ordnance Department: Planning Munitions for War , Washington, 1955, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, p. 357 [3]
  6. ^ Rottman: The Bazooka , 2012, p. 14.
  7. ↑ Stacy V. Jones: US Tax Exempted For Some Awards in: The New York Times , November 22, 1964 [4]
personal data
SURNAME Kessenich, Gregory Joseph
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kessenich, Gregory J.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American inventor
DATE OF BIRTH April 13, 1896
PLACE OF BIRTH Madison (Wisconsin)
DATE OF DEATH November 19, 1958
Place of death Sanford (Florida)