Learning Center
Our Enshrinees
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Engineer
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Enshrined: 1974
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Birth: February 27, 1910
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Death: December 21, 1990
Clarence “Kelly” Leroy Johnson
- Joined the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in 1933.
- Appointed Chief Research Engineer in 1938.
- Helped develop the P-38 “lightning” interceptor, the model 18 “Lodestar, the B-37, “Ventura, and PV-1 Bombers, and the “constellation” airliners.
- Created the P-80 “Shooting Star”, the first U. S. jet fighter in service.
- Developed the XFV-1, vertical takeoff plane and the T2V “Seastar” jet trainer after being named Chief Engineer in 1952.
- Received the Collier Trophy in 1958 for his Mach 2 F-104 “Starfighter” which was created to combat Soviet MiGs.
- As Vice President of Research and Development, he created the C-130 “Hercules” turbojet transport, the high altitude U-2, and the C-140 “Jetstar” transport.
- Promoted to Vice President-Advanced Development Projects in 1958 and helped develop the Agena D space satellite, and then created the Mach 3-YF-12A interceptor and SR-71 reconnaissance “Blackbird” aircraft.
- Awarded the Collier Trophy a second time for the USAF A-11 Mach 3 Aircraft in 1963 (the precursor to the YF-12 and SR-71)
- Became a member of Lockheed’s Board of Directors in 1964 and Senior Vice President in 1969.
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Engineer
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Enshrined: 1974
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Birth: February 27, 1910
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Death: December 21, 1990
You’re Invited 2023 Enshrinement
Join us for the “Oscar Night of Aviation” as we induct a new group of aviation leaders into the National Aviation Hall of Fame!
Friday, September 22, 2023
National Building Museum | Washington, DC
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