Robert Goddard’s experiments in rocket flight were met with derision from the press at home, with the New York Times in an editorial claiming (incorrectly) that rockets cannot fly in airless space, and the Worcester paper mocking a 1929 experiment with the headline “Moon rocket misses target by 238,7991⁄2 miles.” But Goddard did receive much recognition and respect from Germany. Their rocket engineers saw much bigger potential for the technology; their V-1 and V-2 rockets stoking great consternation among the populace of Britain, despite infrequent launches and low damage.

On this day, November 16, in 1945, to make up for the gap in rocketry (and in fear the Russians were already using captured technology to make their own) the U.S. secretly brought over German scientists to continue their research.

Washington was risking a public relations nightmare if word got out of former enemy scientists on the government’s payroll instead of on trial. But Operation Paperclip ruffled few American feathers, despite rumors getting out of the program right away. The government kept press and photographers away from the scientists, claiming they “voluntarily” came over to the U.S., and were working on very modest means. In any case, the larger danger of falling behind the USSR made politicians and constituents alike turn a blind eye to the great ironies.