Douglas, Donald, Sr.

Douglas, Donald (Wills), Sr.

(1892–1981) aeronautical engineer/manufacturer; born in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1912) and working for Glenn Martin as chief engineer, in 1920 he formed his own company. Building on the success of the twin engine D-3 (1936), Douglas Aircraft dominated domestic commercial air traffic until Boeing introduced the jetliner in 1958.