HAL welcomes back Douglas DeCroix

Press Release

The Historical Association of Lewiston welcomes back Douglas DeCroix for its next program, titled, “Metamorphosis of a War Criminal; Walter Dornberger, Bell’s Rocket Genius.” This presentation will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St.

Without warning, at 6:44 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, 1944, a massive explosion rocked Stavely Road in the London suburb of Chiswick. Three civilians were killed and 19 injured in what later turned out to be the first strike on London by Hitler’s ultimate weapon: the V-2 rocket. On May 5, 1945, a group of Nazi officers surrendered to members of the U.S. 44th Infantry Division near the Austrian village of Schattwald. Among them were Wernher von Braun, who would go on to play a critical role in NASA’s manned space program; and Gen. Maj. Dr. Walter P. Dornberger, future vice president and chief scientist for Bell Aircraft Corp. in Niagara Falls.

Historian DeCroix will examine Dornberger’s role in the development of these Nazi terror weapons, as well as how he managed to land his lofty post with Bell Aircraft.

A familiar presenter to HAL members, DeCroix has served as executive director of Western New York Heritage Inc., the nonprofit publisher of Western New York Heritage magazine, since 2009. His contributions to regional and national history have included several nationally aired historical documentaries produced by WNED-TV and The History Channel, as well as numerous articles and several thematic books published by Western New York Heritage.

In recognition of his contributions to regional history, DeCroix was selected to receive the prestigious Owen B. Augspurger Award by the Buffalo History Museum in October 2015 and the Imagine Greater Buffalo Recognition Award in February 2026. In 2024, his efforts to publish “Legends of the Chautauqua-Erie Grape Belt” were recognized with the Jim Finkle Industry Award, presented by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.

DeCroix continues to collaborate with a variety of cultural and educational organizations, working to celebrate the region’s rich history while seeking creative ways of bringing that history into the lives of the region’s inhabitants.

This community event is free and open to all, but donations are greatly appreciated to help support our museum. Refreshments will be served.