Bell was born in Mentone, Indiana, and lived there until 1907, when his family moved to Santa Monica, California. He joined his older brother Grover and stunt pilot Lincoln Beachey as a mechanic in 1912. Grover Bell was killed in a plane crash the following year, and Lawrence vowed to quit aviation for good; however, he went to work for the Glenn L. Martin Company after friends convinced him to return to the industry. He became Martin's shop foreman at age 20, and later the company's general manager, wanting to become partner.[1] On 17 July 1915, he married Lucille Mainwaring (1891–1970); their marriage, without children, lasted for thirty-three years.[2]
Bell plant assembly line near Niagara Falls, New York
He left Martin in 1928 to join Consolidated Aircraft in Buffalo, New York, eventually becoming vice president and general manager. When Consolidated relocated to San Diego, Bell stayed in Buffalo and founded his own company with 56 employees,[1] Bell Aircraft Corporation, on July 10, 1935. On a government-sponsored "spy tour" to Germany with 44 other industrialists in 1938, he saw the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter, and used the layout of a German aircraft factory for his Niagara Falls plant.[1] Bell Aircraft built the P-39 Airacobra and P-63 Kingcobrafighter aircraft during World War II. Bell's P-59 Airacomet fighter was America's first jet-powered aircraft. Postwar, the company produced the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight. The company began developing helicopters in 1941, with the Bell 30 taking its maiden flight in 1943. This early model evolved into the Bell 47, the first helicopter to be certified for civilian use. The Model 47 saw worldwide success, with over 5,600 being built, serving notably in the Korean War, and in innumerable civilian roles. Bell's greatest enduring legacy is perhaps the UH-1 Iroquois, with over 16,000 produced, advanced versions of which remain in production. The "Huey" transformed US Army aviation during the Vietnam War, and became one of the most recognizable aircraft in history.
The Bell Memorial Public Library building in Bell's hometown of Mentone, Indiana, was constructed largely through a $20,000 grant willed to the town; it is so named because Bell requested that the money be used for a memorial for his parents.
Mentone is also the site of the Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum, which showcases personal and historical items related to his life and the history of aviation.
is a major engineering hub at the University at Buffalo. In addition to the building, Mr. Bell is honored through a general-purpose fund in the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.
Since 1971, the Helicopter Association International has given a Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award for excellence in management leadership in the civil helicopter industry.
Larry Bell Park, Marietta, Georgia
See also
Bell Textron, the current incarnation of Bell Aircraft Corporation
Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum in Buffalo, NY, housing many examples of early-to-mid-20th century piston, turbo-jet, turbo-shaft, and jet engines, including early Bell helicopters, an example of the World War II Bell P-39 Airacobra, and the Bell X-22 tilt-ducted-fan VSTOL aircraft
^ abcPate, J'Nell L. Arsenal of Defense: Fort Worth's Military Legacy p. 137-138. Texas State Historical Association Press, 2011. ISBN9780876112496
^Norton, Donald J. Larry, a biography of Lawrence D. Bell p. 30. Nelson-Hall, Chicago, 1981. ISBN0882296159
^"Enshrinee Lawrence Dale Bell". nationalaviation.org. National Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
^"Famous members of Masonic Lodges". Bavaria Lodge No. 935 A.F. & A. M. from the original on October 13, 2018.
^. yorkriteky.org. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved Oct 20, 2018.
^. Highland Lodge No 762 F& A. M. Fort Wayne IN. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
External links
Biographical sketch and photo, from the Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum
Grover E. Bell brother of Lawrence Bell, EarlyAviators.com
August 22, 2023
lawrence, dale, bell, lawrence, dale, larry, bell, april, 1894, october, 1956, american, industrialist, founder, bell, aircraft, corporation, born, 1894, april, 1894mentone, indiana, usdiedoctober, 1956, 1956, aged, buffalo, york, usresting, placeforest, lawn,. Lawrence Dale Larry Bell April 5 1894 October 20 1956 was an American industrialist and founder of Bell Aircraft Corporation Lawrence Dale BellBorn 1894 04 05 April 5 1894Mentone Indiana USDiedOctober 20 1956 1956 10 20 aged 62 Buffalo New York USResting placeForest Lawn Cemetery Buffalo New YorkOccupationindustrialistKnown forFounding Bell Aircraft CorporationAwardsDaniel Guggenheim Medal 1944 Websitewww bellaircraftmuseum org Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy and awards 3 Namesakes 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditBell was born in Mentone Indiana and lived there until 1907 when his family moved to Santa Monica California He joined his older brother Grover and stunt pilot Lincoln Beachey as a mechanic in 1912 Grover Bell was killed in a plane crash the following year and Lawrence vowed to quit aviation for good however he went to work for the Glenn L Martin Company after friends convinced him to return to the industry He became Martin s shop foreman at age 20 and later the company s general manager wanting to become partner 1 On 17 July 1915 he married Lucille Mainwaring 1891 1970 their marriage without children lasted for thirty three years 2 Bell plant assembly line near Niagara Falls New YorkHe left Martin in 1928 to join Consolidated Aircraft in Buffalo New York eventually becoming vice president and general manager When Consolidated relocated to San Diego Bell stayed in Buffalo and founded his own company with 56 employees 1 Bell Aircraft Corporation on July 10 1935 On a government sponsored spy tour to Germany with 44 other industrialists in 1938 he saw the Focke Wulf Fw 61 helicopter and used the layout of a German aircraft factory for his Niagara Falls plant 1 Bell Aircraft built the P 39 Airacobra and P 63 Kingcobra fighter aircraft during World War II Bell s P 59 Airacomet fighter was America s first jet powered aircraft Postwar the company produced the Bell X 1 the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight The company began developing helicopters in 1941 with the Bell 30 taking its maiden flight in 1943 This early model evolved into the Bell 47 the first helicopter to be certified for civilian use The Model 47 saw worldwide success with over 5 600 being built serving notably in the Korean War and in innumerable civilian roles Bell s greatest enduring legacy is perhaps the UH 1 Iroquois with over 16 000 produced advanced versions of which remain in production The Huey transformed US Army aviation during the Vietnam War and became one of the most recognizable aircraft in history For his role in the X 1 s first supersonic flight he shared the 1947 Collier Trophy with pilot Chuck Yeager and John Stack a research scientist with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics now NASA He was awarded the Society of Automotive Engineers Daniel Guggenheim Medal in 1944 and was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame 3 1977 the Army Aviation Hall of Fame 1986 and the International Aerospace Hall of Fame 2004 Legacy and awards EditBell was initiated to the York Rite of Freemasonry 4 5 6 he was subsequently elevated to the highest degree of Grand Master citation needed Namesakes EditThe Bell Memorial Public Library building in Bell s hometown of Mentone Indiana was constructed largely through a 20 000 grant willed to the town it is so named because Bell requested that the money be used for a memorial for his parents Mentone is also the site of the Lawrence D Bell Aircraft Museum which showcases personal and historical items related to his life and the history of aviation Lawrence D Bell Hall is a major engineering hub at the University at Buffalo In addition to the building Mr Bell is honored through a general purpose fund in the School of Engineering amp Applied Sciences Lawrence Bell Drive in Amherst New York In Hurst Texas L D Bell High School sits on land Bell donated to the Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School District Since 1971 the Helicopter Association International has given a Lawrence D Bell Memorial Award for excellence in management leadership in the civil helicopter industry Larry Bell Park Marietta GeorgiaSee also EditBell Textron the current incarnation of Bell Aircraft Corporation Ira G Ross Aerospace Museum in Buffalo NY housing many examples of early to mid 20th century piston turbo jet turbo shaft and jet engines including early Bell helicopters an example of the World War II Bell P 39 Airacobra and the Bell X 22 tilt ducted fan VSTOL aircraft Forest Lawn Cemetery Buffalo the memorial and final resting place of Mr BellReferences Edit a b c Pate J Nell L Arsenal of Defense Fort Worth s Military Legacy p 137 138 Texas State Historical Association Press 2011 ISBN 9780876112496 Norton Donald J Larry a biography of Lawrence D Bell p 30 Nelson Hall Chicago 1981 ISBN 0882296159 Enshrinee Lawrence Dale Bell nationalaviation org National Aviation Hall of Fame Retrieved 27 January 2023 Famous members of Masonic Lodges Bavaria Lodge No 935 A F amp A M Archived from the original on October 13 2018 History of Freemasonry yorkriteky org Archived from the original on November 30 2010 Retrieved Oct 20 2018 List of Famous Masons in the history Highland Lodge No 762 F amp A M Fort Wayne IN Archived from the original on November 9 2014 Retrieved November 17 2018 External links EditBiographical sketch and photo from the Lawrence D Bell Aircraft Museum National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrinee profile Army Aviation Hall of Fame inductee profile Grover E Bell brother of Lawrence Bell EarlyAviators com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lawrence Dale Bell amp oldid 1167444687, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
