Biographical Sketches

JAMES HOWARD "DUTCH" KINDELBERGER

Born: May 8, 1895    In: Wheeling, WV
Died: July 27, 1962    In: Pacific Palisades, CA

James Howard "Dutch" Kindelberger was the son of steelworker. He spent a year at the Carnegie Institute of Technology before joining the Army in 1917 just prior to World War I, serving in the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps and as a pilot instructor at Park Field in Memphis TN during the war.

In 1920 he became chief draftsman and assistant chief engineer with the Glenn L Martin Aircraft Co in Cleveland and, in 1925, joined Douglas Aircraft in California as chief engineer. He remained there for nine years, leading production of the DC-1 and -2.

In 1934 Kindelberger became president and general manager of General Aviation, later renamed North American Aviation Inc, and served as general manager until 1948, when he became chairman and chief executive officer. He retired in 1960 as CEO at the age of 65 and was succeeded by Leland Atwood, but remained as chairman of the board until his death two years later. Under Kindelberger’s direction between 1935 and 1967, North American Aviation built more military aircraft than any other airplane manufacturer in U.S. history.

Denotes an individual known to have soloed an aircraft prior to December 16, 1917, whether they were members of the "Early Birds of Aviation" Organization or not.