Clarence Johnson

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Clarence “Kelly” Johnson next to a model of the Lockheed Electra in the wind tunnel, 1933

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 to Swedish emigrants in Ishpeming , Michigan . He built his first airplane, a competition model, at the age of 15. After graduating from university, he started in Lockheed mold making in 1933. Initially entrusted with tasks in the flight test area, in materials testing, aerodynamics and weight calculation, he became one of the leading research engineers around 1938, and finally, in 1952, chief engineer at the Lockheed headquarters in Burbank . In 1956 he was promoted to Vice President of Research and Development, and in 1958 he became Vice President of the Advanced Development Project (ADP) , which soon became known as Skunk Works . In the course of this, the creation of theAttributed to the KISS principle .

In 1964 he became a member of the supervisory board, and in 1969 he became senior vice president . In 1975 he officially retired, but continued to work in an advisory capacity at the Skunk Works . In 1980 he also left the board of directors. Finally, in 1983, the plant / research facility (in) Rye Canyon was named after him. He was employed at Lockheed throughout his professional career, where he was involved in the design of the P-38 , A-12 , SR-71 Blackbird , U-2 and Starfighter F-104 types . In his four-decade career at Lockheed, he worked on the design of over 40 aircraft.

Johnson, widowed after his first marriage (1937-1969) to Althea Louise Young, married Mary Ellen Elberta Meade for a second time in 1971. After her death in 1980, he married Nancy Powers Horrigan that same year. His autobiography is entitled 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.

In 1965 Johnson was elected to the National Academy of Sciences , 1966 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences . In 1988 he received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation .

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Commons : Clarence Johnson  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Johnson, Clarence
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johnson, Clarence Leonard (full name); Johnson, Kelly (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American aircraft designer
DATE OF BIRTH February 27, 1910
PLACE OF BIRTH Ishpeming , Michigan
DATE OF DEATH December 21, 1990
Place of death los Angeles