James H. Kindelberger
Encyclopedia
James H. "Dutch" Kindelberger (May 8, 1895 - July 27, 1962) was an American
pioneer of aviation. He was also a leader of North American Aviation
for a number of years. The International Aerospace Hall of Fame inducted Kindelberger in 1977.
in 1934. He was promoted to chairman and chief executive officer
in 1948, with Lee Atwood
replacing him as president. In 1960
, Atwood took over as chief executive when Kindelberger retired. Kindelberger remained chairman of the board until his death in 1962
.
"Under his guidance, North American Aviation broke technological barriers; produced propeller- and jet-powered fighters and bombers, military trainers, rocket engines, and rocket-powered aircraft; and began its role as the prime contractor for the country's space program". Between the years 1935 and 1967, North American Aviation (under Kindelberger's direction) built more military aircraft than any other airplane maker in U.S. history.
Kindelberger was recently honored in a documentary by filmmaker William Winship. "Pioneers in Aviation: The Race to the Moon", which profiles four of America's legendary aerospace pioneers--William Boeing, Donald Douglas
, Dutch Kindelberger, and James McDonnell
--whose achievements led the nation and the world from the era of open-cockpit biplanes to the very threshold of Space. American Public Television
will be airing this film starting in Spring 2006. The film has previously unreleased interviews, photos, and film footage of "Dutch" (Deutsch) Kindelberger.
Kindelberger and Atwood were young engineers when they met at Douglas
in 1930
, working on the DC-1
and DC-2
transports. They left Douglas together in 1934
to join the manufacturing division of North American Aviation, where they became a unique American industrial team. Kindelberger rose to be President of the company. He was an extrovert, a 'pile-driver' of a man. Atwood was quieter, serving as Chief Engineer.
When the two arrived at North American in 1934, the company had one passenger aircraft on order. Kindelberger managed to get a $1 million order for BT-9
aircraft. Then Britain asked North American to build P-40
fighters. Kindelberger told them he could make a better design than that and completed the prototype of the legendary P-51 Mustang
in four months. 42,000 aircraft were built by the company by the end of the war.
After World War II Atwood expected there would be a need for improved rocket engines based on those developed by the Germans for the V-2
. The two decided in 1946
to invest $1 million in a rocket engine test facility in Santa Susanna
, California, and a supersonic wind tunnel at Los Angeles International Airport
. This paid off when North American landed the contract to develop the Navaho
, a rocket-boosted intercontinental cruise missile. Navaho allowed North American to develop expertise in rocket engines, inertial navigation systems, and supersonic aerodynamics. This in turn led to securing contracts for many advanced aerospace vehicles in the late 1950s - the X-15
manned hypersonic spaceplane, the Hound Dog missile
, and the XB-70 Valkyrie
triple-sonic bomber. The XB-70 required the company to develop new materials, welding, and manufacturing processes.
Kindelberger died in 1962
, and Atwood then became Chairman of the Board.
. to German immigrants from Nothweiler
, Pfalz
. His parents taught him the typical German virtues; he always believed in hard work, orderliness and punctuality. In World War I he was a member of the US Army Air Service.
Kindelberger's grandson is James K. Graham, son of Ralph and Joan Graham. One of his great grandsons is Hunter B. Graham. Kindelberger's granddaughters are Karen Graham and Toni K. Graham.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pioneer of aviation. He was also a leader of North American Aviation
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
for a number of years. The International Aerospace Hall of Fame inducted Kindelberger in 1977.
North American Aviation
Kindelberger became the president and general manager of North American AviationNorth American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
in 1934. He was promoted to chairman and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in 1948, with Lee Atwood
John Leland Atwood
John Leland "Lee" Atwood was an engineer and manager in the aerospace industry. He worked in various prominent positions at North American Aviation for over 35 years. The International Aerospace Hall of Fame invested Atwood in 1984. Atwood Dorm at Harvey Mudd College is named after him...
replacing him as president. In 1960
1960 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1960:-January:* January 1 – Fiji Airways is reconstituted, becoming equally owned by BOAC, Qantas, and Tasman Empire Airways....
, Atwood took over as chief executive when Kindelberger retired. Kindelberger remained chairman of the board until his death in 1962
1962 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1962:- Events :* Early 1962 – In Operation High Jump, the United States Navy McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II fighter sets a number of world climb-to altitude records: 34.523 seconds to 3,000 meters , 48.787 seconds to 6,000 meters , 61.629 seconds to...
.
"Under his guidance, North American Aviation broke technological barriers; produced propeller- and jet-powered fighters and bombers, military trainers, rocket engines, and rocket-powered aircraft; and began its role as the prime contractor for the country's space program". Between the years 1935 and 1967, North American Aviation (under Kindelberger's direction) built more military aircraft than any other airplane maker in U.S. history.
Kindelberger was recently honored in a documentary by filmmaker William Winship. "Pioneers in Aviation: The Race to the Moon", which profiles four of America's legendary aerospace pioneers--William Boeing, Donald Douglas
Donald Wills Douglas, Sr.
Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. was a United States aircraft industrialist and founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1921 .-Early life:...
, Dutch Kindelberger, and James McDonnell
James Smith McDonnell
James Smith "Mac" McDonnell was an American aviation pioneer and founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, later McDonnell Douglas.-Early life:...
--whose achievements led the nation and the world from the era of open-cockpit biplanes to the very threshold of Space. American Public Television
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
will be airing this film starting in Spring 2006. The film has previously unreleased interviews, photos, and film footage of "Dutch" (Deutsch) Kindelberger.
Kindelberger and Atwood were young engineers when they met at Douglas
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
in 1930
1930 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1930:- Events :* The Surrey Aero Club inaugurates recreational flights from Gatwick Race Course .* The German airship LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin makes its first crossing of the South Atlantic....
, working on the DC-1
Douglas DC-1
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1....
and DC-2
Douglas DC-1
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1....
transports. They left Douglas together in 1934
1934 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1934:-Events:* Sir Alan Cobhams Flight Refuelling Ltd. develops the looped-hose aerial refueling system, a weighted cable let out of a tanker aircraft and grabbed by a grapnel fired from the receiving aircraft...
to join the manufacturing division of North American Aviation, where they became a unique American industrial team. Kindelberger rose to be President of the company. He was an extrovert, a 'pile-driver' of a man. Atwood was quieter, serving as Chief Engineer.
When the two arrived at North American in 1934, the company had one passenger aircraft on order. Kindelberger managed to get a $1 million order for BT-9
North American BT-9
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Davis, Larry. T-6 Texan in Action . Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1989. ISBN 0-89747-224-1....
aircraft. Then Britain asked North American to build P-40
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
fighters. Kindelberger told them he could make a better design than that and completed the prototype of the legendary P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
in four months. 42,000 aircraft were built by the company by the end of the war.
After World War II Atwood expected there would be a need for improved rocket engines based on those developed by the Germans for the V-2
V-2 rocket
The V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
. The two decided in 1946
1946 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1946:- Events :* The American Section of the International League of Aviators resurrects the National Trophy, a Harmon Trophy awarded from 1926 to 1938 to the outstanding aviator of the year in each of the 21 member countries of the now-defunct League...
to invest $1 million in a rocket engine test facility in Santa Susanna
Santa Susana Field Laboratory
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory is a complex of industrial research and development facilities located on a 2,668 acre portion of the Southern California Simi Hills in Simi Valley, California, used mainly for the testing and development of Liquid-propellant rocket engines for the United States...
, California, and a supersonic wind tunnel at Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
. This paid off when North American landed the contract to develop the Navaho
SM-64 Navaho
The North American SM-64 Navaho was a supersonic intercontinental cruise missile project built by North American Aviation. The program ran from 1946 to 1958 when it was cancelled in favor of intercontinental ballistic missiles...
, a rocket-boosted intercontinental cruise missile. Navaho allowed North American to develop expertise in rocket engines, inertial navigation systems, and supersonic aerodynamics. This in turn led to securing contracts for many advanced aerospace vehicles in the late 1950s - the X-15
North American X-15
The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft/spaceplane was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAAF/USAF, NACA/NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and...
manned hypersonic spaceplane, the Hound Dog missile
AGM-28 Hound Dog
The North American Aviation Corporation AGM-28 Hound Dog was a supersonic, jet propelled, air-launched cruise missile. The Hound Dog missile was first given the designation B-77, then redesignated the GAM-77, and finally designated the AGM-28, permanently...
, and the XB-70 Valkyrie
XB-70 Valkyrie
The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the proposed B-70 nuclear-armed deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command...
triple-sonic bomber. The XB-70 required the company to develop new materials, welding, and manufacturing processes.
Kindelberger died in 1962
1962 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1962:- Events :* Early 1962 – In Operation High Jump, the United States Navy McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II fighter sets a number of world climb-to altitude records: 34.523 seconds to 3,000 meters , 48.787 seconds to 6,000 meters , 61.629 seconds to...
, and Atwood then became Chairman of the Board.
Descent
James Howard Kindelberger was born on May 8, 1895 in Wheeling, West VirginiaWheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. to German immigrants from Nothweiler
Nothweiler
Nothweiler is a municipality in Südwestpfalz district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
, Pfalz
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
. His parents taught him the typical German virtues; he always believed in hard work, orderliness and punctuality. In World War I he was a member of the US Army Air Service.
Kindelberger's grandson is James K. Graham, son of Ralph and Joan Graham. One of his great grandsons is Hunter B. Graham. Kindelberger's granddaughters are Karen Graham and Toni K. Graham.