Clarence Kelly Johnson
Quick Summary
Clarence Kelly Johnson was a highly innovative American aeronautical engineer and designer. He received his degrees from the University of Michigan before joining the Lockheed Corporation in 1933.1
As head of Lockheed's secret development unit, the "Skunk Works," Johnson was instrumental in designing over 40 aircraft. Notable designs include:1
* The P-38 Lightning
* The F-80 Shooting Star, America's first production jet fighter
* The F-104 Starfighter, which achieved supersonic speeds
* The U-2, capable of flying above 60,000 feet
* The SR-71 Blackbird, one of the fastest and highest-flying planes ever built, utilizing titanium alloy for high-speed, high-temperature flight.1
Johnson was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1964 and retired from Lockheed in 1975.1
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