by Norman L. Crabill, NASA Retired Rocket Engineer

Introduction
After World War II, when the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), began the development of new technologies for researching the emerging problems of transonic and supersonic flight, the agency took advantage of a relatively young cohort of WWII ex-GI’s, their farsighted old-line NACA managers, and new technology developed during WWII. Other organizations in the country similarly benefited from this infusion of youth, talent, and ability but the NACA was among the fortunate in possessing real challenges of strategic significance and individuals who were uniquely qualified to respond to them through innovative application of these technologies to one of the important national problems. Many of these returning GI’s had successfully operated aircraft, ships, and submarines and their weapons systems during the war, and they brought a wealth of competence and eagerness to come to grips with the real problems of flight and to search out the next increment of data using the new technologies of telemetry, radar, and reliable solid fuel rockets.

To read the entire article, click the link below:

The NACA Wallops Experience 1945-1950.pdf