During the waning days of World War II, a frenzied race was underway in rubble-strewn Europe as US and Soviet forces sought to seize advanced German weapons technology. Over the next quarter century, North American Aviation (NAA) would enhance these spoils of war into fearsome weapons in America's arsenal. There's the swept-wing F-86 Sabre jet fighter, which would go on to be the only Allied warplane to outmaneuver a Soviet MiG-15 over Korea. X-15 rocket planes carried humans to the boundaries of space, setting speed and altitude records that still hold today. The story of these weapons and the engineers who nourished them is a fascinating look into postwar corporate history of the NAA and its impact on US aviation and space history.

North American Aviation in the Jet Age: The California Years, 1945–1997

History

Fredrickson, John

Americas

Schiffer Military History

Welcome to the world of corporate decision-making, workplace gambles, and a myriad of human interactions. This is a story that affirms the traditional values of hard work, fidelity, and building the human alliances necessary for achieving enduring success.&nbsp;John Andrew, a retired Boeing executive, offers a unique insider look at the&nbsp;profound changes&nbsp;Boeing experienced in the 1960s as the product mix shifted from military hardware to the first generation of jet-powered airliners. The requirement for more factory space was fueled by new models and a surging worldwide demand for air travel.&nbsp;Massive construction projects were launched, including a newly constructed 747-sized factory on 760 acres at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. These cathedrals of airframe assembly remain vital to Boeing's&nbsp;ongoing operations today.

Boeing Metamorphosis: Launching the 737 and 747, 1965–1969

Engineering & Transportation

ANDREW, JOHN

Transportation

An industrial miracle took place at the Fairfax Airport, on the shores of the Missouri River, between 1941 and 1945. A massive factory was quickly built and a large modification center was soon added. At its peak, over 24,000 greater Kansas City–area residents were employed by North American Aviation, Inc. Their goal was to build as many twin-engine B-25 Mitchell medium bombers for wartime service as possible. Their success was the construction of an unprecedented 6,608 aircraft. The B-25 Mitchell served with distinction in every theater of World War II, and significant numbers of them were provided to Allied nations. Many B-25s have been preserved, and some of them remain airworthy today. They can be seen on static display or in flight at air shows all across America.

Kansas City B-25 Factory (Images of Aviation)

Arts & Photography

Roper, John

Photography & Video

Arcadia Publishing

In 1916, an airplane company was established in the previous Heath shipyard along the Duwamish River, situated a short distance south of Seattle's Elliott Bay. Work on the first two airplanes was already well underway as the articles of incorporation for Pacific Aero Products Company established three Seattle residents as the principals, William E. Boeing, James Foley, and Edgar Gott. The company's diverse crew included men with woodworking skills, women with expertise in sewing fabric, and an American-educated Chinese aeronautical engineer named Wong Tsu. A century later, Boeing is synonymous with commercial aviation, military products, and feats in space.

Boeing (Images of Aviation)

Humor & Entertainment

An industrial miracle took place at the Fairfax Airport, on the shores of the Missouri River, between 1941 and 1945. A massive factory was quickly built and a large modification center was soon added. At its peak, over 24,000 greater Kansas City-area residents were employed by North American Aviation, Inc. Their goal was to build as many twin-engine B-25 Mitchell medium bombers for wartime service as possible. Their success was the construction of an unprecedented 6,608 aircraft. The B-25 Mitchell served with distinction in every theater of World War II, and significant numbers of them were provided to Allied nations. Many B-25s have been preserved, and some of them remain airworthy today. They can be seen on static display or in flight at air shows all across America.

Kansas City B-25 Factory

Roper, Dr John

Arcadia Publishing Library Editions

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Books by Fredrickson, John