Figure 1.-- This is a Lockheed Electra, a plane used by the Arnyv air Cirps as a trnsport plane during World War II. The photograph may have been taken just after the War. It eems gto be brinhging Santa Clause to military dependents. The Electra was used as the basis for the Hudson Bomber, bought by theBritish abnd Japanese. It was largely obsolete as aby the time the War began, but proved useful in anti-submarine patrols. Click on the image for a closer view.

The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation was founded as the Alco Hydro-Aeroplane Company by the Loughead brothers in San Francisco (1912). As such it was one of the earliest American aircraft companies. The founders remamed the company the Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company and moved to Santa Barbara (1916). This was the year that Jack Northrop, who would play an important role in the American aviation indutry, got his first job in aviation working as a draftsman for the Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company. The company designed and construct the Model F-1 seaplane, which was intoduced during World War I (1918). It set the American non-stop record for seaplane flight by flying from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Loughead played, however, virtually no role in World War I. American flyers used British and French planes. And the Germans asked for an armistice before American industry could be converted to arms production and begin the production of significant quantities of arms. Loughead began working on monoplane technology, producing the Model S-1. The end of the war and the glut of war surplus aircraft proved impossible for the innovative little company to master and it closed (1921). This was the begginning of a rick road. Allan Loughead, Jack Northrop, and Kenneth Jay obtained funding to form the Lockheed Aircraft Company. The spelling was changed, but this is how Loughead was pronounced. This revived company which set up shop in Hollywood utilized some of the same technology developed for the Model S-1 to create the Vega. The Vega was an innovative, powerful six-passenger monoplane which the company began to produce (1927). It was at the time at the cutting edge of aircraft design and made a name for Lockheed. Two years later, the Stock Market Crash and resulting Depression ruined the market for aircraft. Lockheed was purchased by the Detroit Aircraft which soon after went backrupt. The company was broughtout of receivership by a constorium and began constructing Vegas again. The first new plane was the Electra, a small airliner designed to compete with the DC-2. Unlike World War I, the American aircraft industry would play a major role in World War II. With Europe moving toward War, Lockeed shipted to military aircraft. An Electra model was converted into the Hudson bomber. It was purchased by both the British and Japanese. While largely obsolete by the time war broke out, it proved useful in anti-submrine patrols. Lockheeds primary contribution to the air war, led by famed air craft designer Clarence (Kelly) Johnson, submitted a design to the Air Corps for an interceptor. The result was the famed P-38 Lightning. The P-38 was based on an unorthodox twin-engine, twin-boom design. The other Lockheed plans were iof marginal imoportance. The P-38 in contrast was of vital importance to the Pacific War. It was the most effective American fighter during 1942 before the improved American types began reaching the Pacific theater. It proved to be the only American fighter aircraft in constant production from Pearl Harbor to V-J day. It filled a variety of combat roles. Lockheed also produced Electras for air transport, Ventura bombers, and B-17s under contract from Boeing. Lockheed would play an even greater role in the Cold war.

Founding

The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation was founded as the Alco Hydro-Aeroplane Company by the Loughead brothers in San Francisco (1912). As such it was one of the earliest American aircraft companies. The founders remamed the company the Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company and moved to Santa Barbara (1916). This was the year that Jack Northrop, who would play an important role in the American aviation indutry, got his first job in aviation working as a draftsman for the Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company.

World War I

The company designed and construct the Model F-1 seaplane, which was intoduced during World War I (1918). It set the American non-stop record for seaplane flight by flying from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Loughead played, however, virtually no role in World War I. American flyers used British and French planes. And the Germans asked for an armistice before American industry could be converted to arms production and begin the production of significant quantities of arms.

Inter-War Era

Loughead began working on monoplane technology, producing the Model S-1. The end of the war and the glut of war surplus aircraft proved impossible for the innovative little company to master and it closed (1921). This was the begginning of a rick road. Allan Loughead, Jack Northrop, and Kenneth Jay obtained funding to form the Lockheed Aircraft Company. The spelling was changed, but this is how Loughead was pronounced. This revived company which set up shop in Hollywood utilized some of the same technology developed for the Model S-1 to create the Vega. The Vega was an innovative, powerful six-passenger monoplane which the company began to produce (1927). It was at the time at the cutting edge of aircraft design and made a name for Lockheed. Two years later, the Stock Market Crash and resulting Depression ruined the market for aircraft. Lockheed was purchased by the Detroit Aircraft which soon after went backrupt. The company was broughtout of receivership by a constorium and began constructing Vegas again. The first new plane was the Electra, a small airliner designed to compete with the DC-2.

World War II

Unlike World War I, the American aircraft industry would play a major role in World War II. With Europe moving toward War, Lockeed shipted to military aircraft. An Electra model was converted into the Hudson bomber. It was purchased by both the British and Japanese. While largely obsolete by the time war broke out, it proved useful in anti-submarine patrols. A reader writes, "In the 1980s where I lived my neighbour in the next apartment used to be a gunner on a Hudson. He was based in the Bahamas. He was there for the entire war. He said that in alln the patrols they flew they only sighted one U-boat and made an attack but no visible signs of a hit." The U.S. coast and Bahamas was ideal for thec Hudon as there were no threats from enemy aircraft. Thus older model aircraft could be used for anti-submarine patrols." Lockheeds primary contribution to the air war, led by famed air craft designer Clarence (Kelly) Johnson, submitted a design to the Air Corps for an interceptor. The result was the famed P-38 Lightning. The P-38 was based on an unorthodox twin-engine, twin-boom design. The other Lockheed plans were iof marginal imoportance. The P-38 in contrast was of vital importance to the Pacific War. It was the most effective American fighter during 1942 before the improved American types began reaching the Pacific theater. It proved to be the only American fighter aircraft in constant production from Pearl Harbor to V-J day. It filled a variety of combat roles, including both air combat and griound support. One of the most valuabkle characterustics of thec P-38 was its long range, very important in the vast expanses of the Pacific. Interstigly, it was the famous aviator Charles Linberfh that worked out how to extend the range. Linbergh as an isolationst American Furster who had sharoly cruticzed the Roosevlt Administration was barredcfrom military service. He was, however, hired by Lockeed as a consultant. Lockheed also produced Electras for air transport, Ventura bombers, and B-17s under contract from Boeing.

Cold War

Lockheed would play an even greater role in the Cold war.

Created: 6:03 AM 2/22/2013
Last updated: 4:13 AM 7/1/2013