National leaders in aeronautic research toured the center’s research laboratories.
Mechanic Leonard Tesar (center) demonstrated the machining of a 20,000-pound thrust rocket engine in the fabrication shop for a group of NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) officials. The group was making a final visit to each of the laboratories during the last few months of NACA before it became NASA. From left to right, Associate Director Eugene Manganiello, Researcher Edward Baehr, NACA Chairman James Doolittle (the famous World War II pilot who conducted the air raid on Tokyo after the bombing of Pearl Harbor), NACA Executive Secretary John Victory, Thompson Products Chairman of the Board Frederick Crawford, NACA Lewis Director Raymond Sharp and mechanic Curtis Strawn.