Walter Stuart Diehl
Encyclopedia
Walter Stuart Diehl was an American naval officer and pioneering aeronautical engineer.
, Tennessee
, on December 3, 1893, as the oldest child of Wiliam P. and Lydia Showalter Diehl. He lived in Jonesborough until he served in the United States Navy
during World War I, in which the United States participated from April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918.
They had two children, Zulime Whitney Diehl, born April 19, 1925, and Walter Colburn Diehl, born February 22, 1930.
and aircraft design. Serving in the U.S. Navys Bureau of Aeronautics
, he directed the Navy's work in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics from 1918 until 1951. He was responsible for the funding, programs, and facilities of the Aerodynamics Laboratory. The author of the authoritative Engineering Aerodynamics, he actively participated in and strongly influenced continuing advances in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics.
He initiated action that led to establishment of the David W. Taylor Model Basin at Carderock
, Maryland
, the Aircraft Research Station at Chincoteague
, Virginia
, and the U.S. Navys test flight unit at Naval Air Station Anacostia in Washington, D.C., which later developed into the U.S. Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent
, Maryland.
, Louisiana
, on October 10, 1987 and entered non-commissioned service as a United States Naval Ship
with the Military Sealift Command
on September 13, 1988. She remains in activie service.
Early life
Diehl was born in JonesboroughJonesborough, Tennessee
Jonesborough is a town in and the county seat of Washington County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. The population was 4,168 at the 2000 census...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, on December 3, 1893, as the oldest child of Wiliam P. and Lydia Showalter Diehl. He lived in Jonesborough until he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I, in which the United States participated from April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918.
Personal life
Diehl married Zulime Summers in 1923 in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
They had two children, Zulime Whitney Diehl, born April 19, 1925, and Walter Colburn Diehl, born February 22, 1930.
Career
Diehl was a pioneer of aerodynamicsAerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
and aircraft design. Serving in the U.S. Navys Bureau of Aeronautics
Bureau of Aeronautics
The Bureau of Aeronautics was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization for Naval Aviation from 1921 to 1959. The bureau had "cognizance" for the design, procurement, and support of Naval aircraft and related systems...
, he directed the Navy's work in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics from 1918 until 1951. He was responsible for the funding, programs, and facilities of the Aerodynamics Laboratory. The author of the authoritative Engineering Aerodynamics, he actively participated in and strongly influenced continuing advances in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics.
He initiated action that led to establishment of the David W. Taylor Model Basin at Carderock
Carderock, Maryland
Carderock, Maryland, is located in Montgomery County, Maryland, along the Potomac River. Carderock is just west of Bethesda.It is the location of a division of the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center ....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, the Aircraft Research Station at Chincoteague
Chincoteague, Virginia
Chincoteague is a town on Chincoteague Island in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. The town is perhaps best known for the Chincoteague Ponies, although these are not actually on the island of Chincoteague but on nearby Assateague Island...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and the U.S. Navys test flight unit at Naval Air Station Anacostia in Washington, D.C., which later developed into the U.S. Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent
Patuxent, Maryland
Patuxent is an unincorporated community in Charles County, Maryland, United States. Maxwell Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974....
, Maryland.
Retirement and death
Diehl retired from the Navy in 1951 as a captain. He died in Washington D. C. on November 21, 1976.Memorialization
A U.S. Navy fleet replenishment oiler, , was named for Diehl. She was christened in his honor in New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, on October 10, 1987 and entered non-commissioned service as a United States Naval Ship
United States Naval Ship
United States Naval Ship or USNS is the prefix designation given to non-commissioned ships that are property of the United States Navy.-Overview:...
with the Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...
on September 13, 1988. She remains in activie service.