Sharing our Links to the Past
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ARTICLE ON FIRMAN C. GRAY By Eddie Guy (Eddie Guy knew Firman since 1933 and went to work for him in 1935. This article was written for Wallace F. Gray as background material for the funeral talk on Firman.) Firman Gray, aviation pioneer, learned to fly during World War I. Seriously injured in air aircraft accident. Did not recover till after armistice. Firman made many contributions to his country and the success of the present Lockheed Corp. In 1929 and the early thirties, Firman was head of the original Lockheed Service
Department. Was in charge of servicing and preparing many famous Lockheed airplanes for
record-breaking flights all over the world. He was held in the highest esteem of the
pilots who flew them. Among this group were Amelia Earhart, the Lindberghs, Wiley Post,
Laura Ingalls, Roscoe Turner, Jimmy Doolittle and many others. During the Depression years the original Lockheed Company went bankrupt. Firman and a few mechanics set up a shop at Van Nuys Airport to service Lockheed airplanes and recruit new business for the present Lockheed company. At the beginning of World War II Firman was chosen by his good friend Chief Engineer Kelly Johnson to head the newly formed Engineering Flight Test Facility where he remained till retirement. During this time another new generation of military airplanes were being built, flight tested and setting new world records for the allied air forces all over the world. And at the same time new commercial airplanes were being developed for the airlines for years to come after the war. During his long years of hard work as head of the Engineering Flight Test Service Department, Firman Gray won the respect and friendship of the many engineers, pilots and mechanics that knew or worked for him. To many of us closest to him, his friendship will remain a most cherished possession of a life time. --Eddie Guy
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