At the end of the Second World War Rohr Aircraft Corp. became a subsidiary of International Detrola Corp. that was head quartered in Detroit.  This would usher in a unique time for the company, as aircraft order slowed down.  During this period, in additon to making aircraft components, the company prodiced vacums, toys and washing machines.   It was also during this time that Rohr produced its first ground up airplane, the Rohr-McCreery MO-1.

The MR-1 was only flown once, and its pilot deemed it too dangerous to go up in again.  All that remains of it is this wing tip in our Curatorial collection.

But the manufacturer of aircraft components also continued, a wide variety of types, both military and civilan, had key parts completed in the Chula Vista plant.

Rohr provided engine pods for the Convair Liner model 240.

The B-47 Stratojet was the first bomber with jet engines suspended below the wing on pylons. Rohr supplied Boeing with these unique engine nacelles.  Boeing and Rohr would have a very long relationship with each other. 

Another Boeing job was the B-50, which Rohr built power packs for, using the largest punch press on the West coast.

In 1949 the company went through a series of name changes, no longer Detrola, it took the namethe Harbor Aircraft Corporation, then soon after changing the name once again to the Rohr Aircraft Corporation.  As a testament to the company's success, a second factory was built in Riverside, CA

Two views of the Rohr Riverside plant, one from the 1950s (top) and the other from the 1980s

The rest of the 1950s was a time of great growth for Rohr.  Not only were two new factories opened, one in George and one in Washington state, the main Chula Vista factory expanded as well.

Both started in the 1950s, the Winder, Georgia and the Auburn, Washington plants would bother grow to a substanital size. 

Not only did Rohr work on a variety of aircraft during the 1950s, they developed ground breaking technology to would revolutionize aviation.  They worked with the majority of the major U.S. aerospace companies, including Douglas, Boeing and Lockheed. 

The Rohr 707 department designed the exhaust with sound suppression for the Boeing 707 and continued to work on keeping that models engine quiet. 

Aircraft components were made by Rohr for the Convair B-58 Hustler (Stainless Steel Honeycomb Sandwich Structural Panels), the Douglas DC-8 (nacelles and thrust reversers) and the Lockheed Jetstar (engine pods).

One of the fun events Rohr would have to promote employee morale was silver dollar day, when pay would be distributed with the coins.  By the end of the 1950s, Rohr was employing over 10,000 workersa and the company's revenue reached $191,272,128! 

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