About Roland Rohlfs
Lived 1892 – 1974 (aged 82). Roland Rohlfs was an American aircraft pilot.
Roland Rohlfs (February 10, 1892 – February 28, 1974) was an American aviator.
Biography Roland Rohlfs was born in Buffalo, New York on February 10, 1892, the son of Anna Katharine Green, the crime novelist; and Charles Rohlfs, the actor and furniture craftsman.
Rohlfs flew a hydro-aeroplane called the "Dunkirk Fighter" for Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in 1918. Later that year he broke the flight airspeed record while flying a Curtiss Wasp, his speed was clocked at 163.1 mph (262.4 km/h).
In 1919 he broke another world record when he flew to an altitude of 34,610 feet in a Curtiss L-3 triplane (at - 47 degrees Fahrenheit).
He died on February 28, 1974.
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Important facts
People in Roland Rohlfs's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Roland Rohlfs's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Roland Rohlfs?
Early American aviator
When was Roland Rohlfs born?
Roland Rohlfs was born on 10 February 1892 in Buffalo.
When did Roland Rohlfs die?
Roland Rohlfs died on 22 March 1974.
What was Roland Rohlfs's occupation?
Roland Rohlfs was an aircraft pilot.
What nationality was Roland Rohlfs?
Roland Rohlfs was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Roland Rohlfs. https://biography.guide/roland-rohlfs/
MLA: "Roland Rohlfs." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/roland-rohlfs/.
Chicago: "Roland Rohlfs." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/roland-rohlfs/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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