During World War I, James Howard Kindelberger was a U.S. Air Service pilot. His aeronautical design career was launched when he became chief draftsman for the Martin Company in 1918. In 1925 he joined the Douglas Aircraft Company and developed the designs that would lead to the renowned DC-3. Kindelberger left Douglas in 1934 to join the manufacturing division of North American Aviation, where he rose to be president of the company. When he arrived at North American, the company had one passenger aircraft on order. Having worked on the DC-1 and DC-2 at Douglas, Kindelberger managed to get a one million dollar order for the BT-9 aircraft. As the clouds of World War II loomed over Europe, Kindelberger realized what must be done, and this foresight was to provide a major element of the air power for victory. The North American T-6 trainers schooled the crews, the P-51 Mustang fighters assured air supremacy, and the rugged B-25 Mitchell light bombers were in the forefront of the air campaign. It is said that "Dutch" Kindelberger built more planes in his 46-year career in aviation than any other man in history. In addition, the foundation he laid at North American produced the Apollo spacecraft and rocket engines which carried man to the moon. His leadership transitioned North American Aviation from the post war era on to jet aircraft, nuclear energy, rocket engines, missiles, the triplesonic Valkyrie bomber, and the X-15 research aircraft.
Inducted in 1977.
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