Marina Kirsch, author of the book ‘Flight of Remembrance,’ told her family’s dramatic tale in a presentation and book-signing held Thursday, May 29 at the Aviation Museum.
Several dozen attendees learned the story of her parents: Rolf Dutzmann, a Latvian aeronautical engineering student forced to flee his homeland and seek refuge in Germany before the Soviet takeover during World War II, and Liselotte Wassull (Lilo), the young woman he met in Berlin. The two were married in 1944; after the war, they relocated to the U.S, where Rolf worked on the Saturn rocket as part of the Apollo program.
A highlight of the presentation was the display of a handmade dress worn by Kirsch’s grandmother prior to World War II.
Signed copies of Kirsch’s book will be available in the museum store. Many thanks to Marina Kirsch for visiting the Aviation Museum, and also all the volunteers who helped organize this program, which was part of the Aviation Museum’s ‘Exploring Aviation’ lecture series. Photos by Norm Beaudette.
A video recording of the presentation will be posted on the Aviation Museum’s website at a future date.
Below: Press release promoting Kirsch’s book-signing at the museum
Follow one family’s journey from war-torn Europe to the U.S. space program with ‘Flight of Remembrance’
He was a young aerospace engineer from Latvia whose family was caught up in World War II in Germany, where he was drafted into the Luftwaffe and later did time in a Soviet P.O.W. camp. After the war, the reunited family emigrated to the U.S., where he worked on the Apollo missions to the moon.
Join the Aviation Museum of N.H. for the story of one family’s experience in the chaos and destruction of World War II as they moved between Latvia, occupied Poland, and Germany, ending with their immigration to America.
Marina Kirsch, author of ‘Flight of Remembrance,’ will relate her family’s story in a presentation on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Aviation Museum of N.H., 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H.
The program, part of the museum’s ‘Exploring Aviation’ lecture series, is $10 per person; museum members are admitted free. Kirsch will sign copies of her book, which will be available for $20 each.
Through her presentation, Kirsch will tell the true story of her parents: Rolf Dutzmann, a Latvian aeronautical engineering student forced to flee his homeland and seek refuge in Germany before the Soviet takeover during World War II, and Liselotte Wassull (Lilo), the young woman he met in Berlin in 1940.
After finishing his aeronautical engineering education, Rolf was drafted into the Luftwaffe (the German air force). The family homes of Rolf and Lilo in Berlin were both destroyed by Allied bombs, but despite the devastation and uncertainty of war, they were married in November 1944. When they parted less than a week later, they knew they might never see each other again.
For many months, Lilo heard nothing from Rolf and searched P.O.W. camps all over the Rhineland in vain. In November 1945, she finally found him at a camp near the Rhine River and aided him in a daring escape.
A son, Ingo, was born to Lilo and Rolf in 1947 Bavaria. Thanks to the kindness of people in a tiny farming community in northern Indiana, the family obtained sponsorship for immigration to America in late 1951. Lilo gave birth to daughter, Marina, in Zurich, Switzerland en route to the U.S. Son, Roland, was born in Indiana in 1953.
The family became naturalized citizens, and life expanded into the American dream when Rolf was hired by Chrysler Missile and Space Division near Detroit in 1957 to lead the team that would design and build components of the Saturn V and Saturn 1B rockets that were later used in all of the Apollo moon missions.
After retiring in 1982, Rolf and Lilo moved to the Lakes Region of N.H. where Rolf was a volunteer in aerospace engineering, model rocketry and other programs at schools, summer camps, and with adults around the state for more than 30 years after his retirement.
Rolf Dutzmann died in 2014 at age 94. Lilo Dutzmann died in 2023 at age 102.
With over a hundred events in 13 states based on her award-winning book, speaker Marina Kirsch provides an uplifting message that encourages audiences to adopt a dream, a goal, and a vision that can sustain them even through difficult times.
Wearing an embroidered heirloom dress hand-tailored by her grandmother in 1930s Latvia, Marina promotes the continued preservation of WWII and holocaust memories as well as a unique perspective on the war.
The program is open to the public. Admission to the event is free for Aviation Museum members and $10 per person for non-members. Copies of ‘Flight of Remembrance’ will be available for $20 each during the event. Come prepared to ask questions and share WWII stories.
The Aviation Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization based in the 1937 art deco passenger terminal at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, is dedicated to preserving the Granite State’s rich aviation past, and also inspiring today’s students to become the aviation and aerospace pioneers of tomorrow.
The Aviation Museum of N.H. was named “’Best Historic or Cultural Attraction for an All-Ages Family Crowd” in southern New Hampshire in the 2025 HippoPress Reader’s Poll.
The Aviation Museum is located at 27 Navigator Road, off Harvey Road, in Londonderry, N.H.
For more information, call (603) 669-4877 or email ldearborn@nhahs.org. Follow the Aviation Museum on social media at www.facebook.com/nhahs.
Below are photos of Rolf and Lilo Dutzmann from throughout their lives.
