Kelly Johnson (engineer)

Clarence Leonard "Kelly" Johnson ( born February 27, 1910 in Ishpeming, Michigan, † December 21, 1990 in Los Angeles ) was an American aircraft designer.

Life

Johnson was born the son of Swedish immigrants in Ishpeming, Michigan. His first aircraft, a competition model, he built at the age of 15 years. After graduation he began in 1933 in the mold of Lockheed. He was initially charged with tasks in the flight test area, testing materials, aerodynamics and weight calculation around 1938 one of the leading research engineers, finally in 1952 the chief engineer in Lockheed Burbank plant. In 1956 he was promoted to Vice President of Research and Development Department, 1958, he was Vice President of Advanced Development Projects ( ADP ), which was known as the Skunk Works soon.

In 1964 he became a member of the Supervisory Board, 1969 finally Senior Vice President. In 1975, he was officially retired, but continued to work in an advisory capacity in the Skunk Works. In 1980, he also left the Supervisory Board. Finally, the work / research facility ( in ) Rye Canyon in 1983 named after him. Throughout his career, he was employed by Lockheed and there among other things involved in the construction of types P- 38, A -12, SR -71 Blackbird, U -2 and F -104 Starfighter. In its more than four decades career at Lockheed, he worked on the construction of over 40 aircraft.

Johnson, widowed by her first marriage (1937-1969) with Althea Louise Young, married in 1971 his second wife Mary Ellen Elberta Meade. After her death in 1980, he entered the marriage with Nancy Powers Horrigan in the same year. His autobiography is titled "More Than My Share of it All " (ISBN 0874744911 ). He died at the age of 80 after a long illness and is buried in Los Angeles.