[Steve Coates]

Here's the career profile on him I published in 'Helicopters of the Third Reich':

Born on 3 December 1913 in Obernkirchen. He gained his Dipl.-Ing. at the Technische Hochschule Hannover on 7 May 1937 and joined E-Stelle Rechlin on 15 July 1937. He was to fly more types of helicopter and autogyro than any other German test pilot, six in all, the Fw C 30, the Fw 61, the Fl 265, the Fa 223, the Fl 282 and the Fa 330.

His career took a number of interesting turns. He was, for a while assigned to a number of front line units such as 9./LG 2 (Lehrgeschwader or Operational Development Wing) during early 1940 and during mid 1942 3.(F)/Ob.d.L (Fernaufklärungsgruppe der Oberkommando der Luftwaffe or Long Range Reconaissance Group of the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe) flying high altitude reconnaissance missions in a Ju 86 over England and Russia for which he was awarded the Frontflugspange (Operational Flying Clasp) für Aufklärer and the EK II (Eisernes Kreuz or Iron Cross) . He was promoted to Fl.Haupting. on 23 February 1942. On 22 March 1943 he was assigned to Dornier as a test pilot and was killed on 15 April 1944 at Memmingen whilst testing the roll characteristics of the Do 335 V2 CP+UB (W.Nr. 230002).

You'll also see a couple of nice photos of him in the book.

I've got a couple of Bescheinigungen giving details of some of his recce flights if you want those.