AV 32 Rockwell International Corporation/North American Aircraft Collection

              AV 32
Rockwell International Corporation/ North American Aircraft Collection
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Manuscript or Audiovisual Collections
AV - 32
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION/ NORTH AMERICAN AIRCRAFT
COLLECTION
1950 – 1987
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Number:
AV 32
Title:
Rockwell International Corporation/ North American Aircraft Collection
Creator:
Rockwell International
Dates:
1950 – 1987
Media:
Photographs, slides, negatives, video- tape
Quantity:
2 cubic ft.
Location:
3/ 5/ 1/ D
HISTORY OF ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
The Columbus Aircraft Division of Rockwell International began operations in November of 1950, when North American Aviation, the then- parent company of Rockwell International, bought out the facilities and operations of the Curtiss- Wright Plant located near Port Columbus Airport on the city’s east side. The Rockwell plant was operational on December 4, 1950. Initially, the division handled contracts left over from the Curtiss- Wright operation and manufactured spare parts for a variety of “ non- current” aircraft, such as the F- 51 Mustang and the B- 25 Mitchell bomber. Eventually, the division expanded into an operation capable of designing, building, and testing its own aircraft and weapons systems, including the F- 86 Sabre, the primary jet fighter of the United Nations forces during the Korean War. The division also participated in various defense research projects. During the 1980s, the Columbus plant helped to produce the B- 1B strategic bomber. In May of 1988, Rockwell announced that it was discontinuing operations at Columbus.
( Information taken from “ Footprints” – History & Highlights of North American Aircraft – Columbus,” Call Number PA 679 – 23)