Donald Wills Douglas attended the U.S. Naval Academy and then became the first aeronautical student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving his degree in 1914. He began his aviation career as a design engineer for the Glenn L. Martin Company, and in 1920 established his own firm in California, the Douglas Aircraft Company. In 1924 Douglas was responsible for the design and production of the first airplanes to circumnavigate the earth. His company produced a continuing line of civil and military aircraft, including the then advanced commercial passenger plane, the DC-l. The legendary DC-3 followed, produced as the C-47 military transport of World War II, was delivered in a quantity of over 10,000. His inspired genius created other great civil transports: the DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, and the DC-8 and DC- 10 jets, which have made air travel a vital part of society. The Douglas quality of rugged dependability and high performance is characteristic of the many thousands of military and research aircraft and missiles produced. These include many naval aircraft such as the A-3 Skywarrior and A-4 Skyhawk, and also the great Saturn rocket which has carried man to the moon. At the age of 75, on April 28th 1967, Douglas merged his company with the McDonnell Aircraft Company and retired. He remained honorary chairman of the McDonnell Douglas board until his death on Feb. 1st 1981.
Inducted in 1967.
Portrait Location: Modern Jet