German WWII ramjet bomber in flight. This is a Dornier Do 217 heavy bomber with a ramjet propulsor mounted on top of its fuselage. This and similar designs were developed during World War II by the Austrian-German aerospace engineer Eugen Sanger (1905-1964) and the German engineer Irene Bredt (1911-1983). Their work on jet propulsion and ramjet engines was intended to enable German bombers to reach the USA. The project was known as the 'Amerika Bomber', and was later named the 'Sanger-Bredt Antipodal Bomber'. Testing involving the Dornier Do 217 took place in April 1942. None of the designs ever saw action before the end of the war.