During World War II Alfred Zaehringer witnessed the awesome power of the Nazi's V-2 rocket as it levelled homes and businesses in London, then in 1945 he was once again on hand as V-1 and V-2 missiles were used against the Allied forces at Remagen, site of the famous bridge crossing over the Rhine into Germany. During these final engagements of World War II Zaehringer would also witness the first jet and rocket aircraft as they struggled to protect Germany in the last few months of the war. On returning to his home town of Detroit Zaehringer decided to form a society dedicated to the study of these new technologies. To that end he contacted the American Rocket Society and tried to find like-minded individuals in his local area. Ultimately Zaehringer was able to harness a membership for his new society that included some of the greatest talents of early rocketry.