1910 – 1990

Kelly Johnson

American aerospace engineer (1910–1990)

military flight engineerengineer

Born

1910-02-27, Ishpeming

Died

1990-12-21

Birthplace state

Michigan

Biography

Kelly Johnson was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on February 27, 1910, and died on December 21, 1990. He worked as an aeronautical and systems engineer and military flight engineer, contributing to the design of several aircraft including the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird. His work involved the first production aircraft to exceed Mach 3, the first fighter capable of Mach 2, the United States' first operational jet fighter, and the first fighter to exceed 400 mph.

Occupation

Kelly Johnson is recorded as a military flight engineer and a engineer, born in Michigan (1910–1990).

Connections to Michigan

Kelly Johnson was born in Ishpeming, Michigan in 1910. Explore other notable figures from Michigan, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Michigan›Michiganhistory ›Historic sites in Michigan›

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Overview

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The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Michigan

Other historical figures born in Michigan, ranked by historical prominence.

Henry Ford

American business magnate (1863–1947)

Charles Lindbergh

American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist (1902–1974)

Glenn Theodore Seaborg

American chemist (1912–1999)

Burt Reynolds

American actor (1936–2018)

Claude Shannon

American mathematician and information theorist (1916–2001)

Ralph Bunche

diplomat, educator, civil rights activist and the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner (1904–1971)

Richard Kiel

American actor (1939–2014)

Frequently asked about Kelly Johnson

Who was Kelly Johnson?

Kelly Johnson was American aerospace engineer (1910–1990), born in Michigan (1910 – 1990).

When and where was Kelly Johnson born?

Kelly Johnson was born on 1910-02-27 in Ishpeming.

When did Kelly Johnson die?

Kelly died on 1990-12-21.

What was Kelly Johnson known for?

Kelly Johnson is recorded as a military flight engineer and a engineer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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