Manfred Ramminger

Manfred Ramminger (15 December 1930 - November 1997 ) was a German architect, playboy, and KGB agent. He is noted for his theft of an American AIM-9 Sidewinder Infrared homing air-to-air missile which he then brought to the Soviet Union.

Background

Manfred Ramminger was born in Groß-Scharellen in East Prussia on 15 December 1930 to a bricklayer and his wife. His family fled the area in 1945 after the Soviet invasion of East Prussia, and settled in the town of Krefeld. After graduating high school, Ramminger studied engineering with minor success, being involved in a small construction company in the 1950s before his partner left the business. ) was living in West Germany. While visiting family in Poland, he was recruited by the Polish Ministry of Public Security.

Linowski was given a number of tasks by his superiors. He was first ordered to steal and later to steal a Phantom aircraft.

Returning to Krefeld, some 200 miles away, Ramminger dismantled and packed the missile for Moscow through airmail. Due to the extra weight, the shipping costs came out to $79.25. However, Ramminger was released in August 1971 in a prisoner swap for Western spies.