George Conrad Westervelt
| George Conrad Westervelt | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 30, 1879 Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Died |
March 15, 1956 (aged 76) Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States Naval Academy |
| Occupation | naval engineering, aircraft executive, corporate troubleshooter |
| Known for | Aircraft industry |
| Title | Co-Founder of Boeing Company |
| George Conrad Westervelt | |
|---|---|
| Born |
30 December 1879 Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Died |
15 March 1956 (aged 76) Florida |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1903-1927 |
| Rank |
 Captain |
| Commands held | Naval Aircraft Factory |
George Conrad Westervelt (December 30, 1879 – March 15, 1956) was a U.S. Navy engineer who created the company "Pacific Aero Products Co." together with William Boeing.[1] Westervelt left the company in 1916 and Boeing changed the name of the company to the Boeing Airplane Company the following year.
George Conrad Westervelt was born in Corpus Christi, Texas to GW Westervelt and Ida Florence DeRyee (DuRy) Westervelt. He attended Corpus Christi Grammar School and Texas Military Institute, San Antonio, Texas.[2]
Naval career
Westervelt was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in naval engineering.[3] Until 1916 Westervelt was stationed on the west coast of the United States. In 1916 he was transferred to the east coast and headed the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia from 1921 to 1927.[4] Westervelt retired from the USN with the rank of Captain.
Aviation career
During his naval career Westervelt was also involved in naval aviation. Westervelt became friends with Boeing and worked with him on seaplanes and help co-found what would become the Boeing Corporation. He left Pacific Aero Products after 1916 after being transferred to the east coast by the USN. Following his retirement from the USN Westervelt joined Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company to work on the Curtiss NC float plane[4] and later became vice-president with Curtiss-Wright.[5] From 1930 to 1931 Westervelt went to China to help out with the China National Aviation Corporation.
Personal
Westervelt was married to Rieta Brabham Langhorne of Lynchburg, Virginia on December 20, 1927 and had two daughters, Sally Cary and Effie Eda.[6] He retired from Curtiss-Wright and died in Florida 1956.[3]
Westervelt is buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC.[7]
See also
- William Boeing
- Boeing Model 1 - first seaplane worked on by B&W and designed by Westervelt and Boeing
References
- ↑ Crowley, Walt (1998-11-22). "William Boeing reportedly takes his first airplane ride on July 4, 1915.". Essay 367. HistoryLink.org. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Aviation and aircraft journal, Volume 10, Gardner, Moffat Co., 1921, p 432.
- 1 2 HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
- 1 2 Wings for an Embattled China - W. Langhorne Bond, James E. Ellis - Google Books
- ↑ George Conrad Westervelt, Vice-President of Curtiss-Wright
- ↑ A Guide to the Papers of George Conrad Westervelt, 1936-1948
- ↑ Capt George Conrad Westervelt (1879 - 1956) - Find A Grave Memorial