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| Aviation Art Collecton - Lee Atwood |
John Leland Lee Atwood. On the 13th June 1998 at age 93 Lee Atwood flew from his home in California to the Yorkshire Air Museum to speak at their 'Things Aviation' lecture. In the 1930s he worked for Douglas Aircraft before moving to North American Aviation becoming chief engineer in 1934. He was in charge of the design of the AT-6 Harvard, the B-25 Mitchell, and the P-51 Mustang. He actually negotiated the contract with the British Government for this aircraft which at the time was only an idea with only the most basic sketches available, however the contract was signed on the 29th of May 1940 for 320 aeroplanes at a price of 40,000 dollars each without engines or armaments. In late 1939 it had been suggested that North American set up a production line for the Curtis P-40 for the British, but Lee felt that he could make a better aircraft, and the Mustang was evolved. The prototype took to the air on the 26th of October 1940, and the first production aircraft AG345 was completed on 16th April 1941. 26 Squadron took the RAF's first Mustang late in January 1942. The Merlin engined Mustang first flew on the 13th of October 1942. Over 15,000 Mustangs were built. Lee became President of the Company in 1948, later North American Rockwell until he retired in 1970. He had general supervision of the following aircraft types. F-86 Sabre, F-100, FJ series of aircraft for the Navy, XB-70 Valkyrie, X-15 Mach 6 research aircraft, plus other navy aircraft and missiles. In space, the second stage and command module for the Apollo lunar mission, and the main engines for all 3 stages of the Saturn 5 launcher. Lee is one of the most important 'back room boys' of American aviation. During his life he has met everyone of consequence in American aviation from Orville Wright to Neil Armstrong, and every American President since Franklin D Roosevelt. He died on 5th March 1999.  Died : 1999 |
| Based on many years of experience in dealing with thousands of aviation signatures, we have estimated the value this signature adds to a print as £40 |
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