Remembering a Würzburg aviation pioneer. We are standing before the Gedenkstein Leo Lendner. This memorial commemorates Egon Leo Lendner’s tragic death. He died in a plane crash.
Let’s delve into the story behind this Gedenkstein Leo Lendner. Egon Leo Lendner was born in Würzburg on December 19, 1890. Sadly, he passed away here on July 8, 1913. He was a true aviation pioneer.
In 1986, a monument was erected in his honor. It stood at Sanderrasen. This was the site of the Kiliani folk festival of 1913. In 2017, the stone was moved. The Steinmetzfirma Geisendörfer relocated it. It now stands at Am Alten Flugfeld. This is near the crash site at Hubland. The area was part of the Landesgartenschau 2018.
The Gedenkstein Leo Lendner bears an inscription. It reads: “In memory of the Würzburg motor aviation pioneer Egon Leo Lendner 19. Dec. 1890 8. July 1913. He crashed fatally during a sightseeing flight on the occasion of the Kiliani Festival which took place here on the Sanderrasen.”
Lendner’s father was a headwaiter. He worked in the Hutten’schen Garten. After studying mechanical engineering, Lendner worked in Berlin. He discovered his passion for aviation there. He contacted aviation pioneers. He learned about gliding and motor flying. He even developed motor gliders himself.
In Paris, he met Albert Sénard. Sénard was a pilot from Bordeaux. In 1910, Sénard came to Würzburg with Lendner. The Galgenberg training ground served as Würzburg’s airfield. Georg Rockenmeyer built a hall there in 1913. He was a city councilor and sawmill owner. It served Lendner as a workshop.
Lendner’s first machine broke during taxiing. His third machine was ready in April 1912. It proved airworthy. On May 24, 1912, Lendner flew before spectators. His aircraft looked like a dragonfly. He flew at 30 meters high and 80 kilometers per hour. This caused a traffic accident. A milkman from Gerbrunn steered his team into the ditch. He was watching the machine.
Lendner and Sénard planned a flight show. It was to be the highlight of the 1913 Kiliani Festival. During a test flight, the right wing broke. This happened near the Galgenberg customs house. The broken spar was wrapped with wire. This hasty repair likely caused the accident.
On July 8, after a successful flight, the landing failed. Curious people blocked the runway. Sénard tried to steer the plane. The right wing broke off. The plane crashed about 50 to 70 meters from the hangar. Sénard died instantly. Lendner died in the ambulance.
The city honored Lendner posthumously. The Lendnerstraße in the Frauenland district is named after him. And of course, we have the Gedenkstein Leo Lendner here at Hubland.
This Gedenkstein Leo Lendner serves as a reminder. It honors a Würzburg pioneer. He pursued his passion for flight. His life was tragically cut short. This monument ensures his memory lives on.