William Boeing (1881-1956),American aviation pioneer. When Boeing left Yale University in 1903,he decided to enter the timber industry. During a business trip to Seattle in 1909,Boeing saw a manned flight for the first time,which started an interest in aircraft. In 1916,he founded the Pacific Aero Products Company. The following year,when America entered World War I,it was renamed the Boeing Airplane Company. In 1934,following the depression,the American government accused Boeing of monopolistic practices and was ordered to break the company into three seperate entities. Boeing retired from the industry the same year |