Wells, Edward C., 1910-1986
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1910-1986
Biographical Note: Edward C. Wells
Edward Curtis Wells was born on August 26, 1910 in Boise, Idaho. He graduated from Grant High School in Portland, Oregon and attended Willamette University for two years. Wells transferred to Stanford University and graduated in 1931 with a Baachelor of Arts in Engineering.
He was hired by Boeing in 1931. Wells and fellow engineer E. Gifford Emory designed the protoype Boeing Model 299, the protoype B-17 Flying Fortress. On July 28, 1935, Wells was an observer on the first test flight and subsequent test flight of the 299, flown by Boeing chief test pilot Leslie "Les" R. Tower.
Wells was named Boeing's chief engineer in 1943. In addition to the B-17, he helped design the Boeing 707 and 747. During his time at Boeing, Wells also served as senior vice president and on the board of directors.
Wells married Dorothy Evangeline Ostlund (1911-1995) on August 25, 1934. The couple had a daughter, Laurie Jo. Edward C. Wells died on July 1, 1986 in Bellevue, Washington.
He was hired by Boeing in 1931. Wells and fellow engineer E. Gifford Emory designed the protoype Boeing Model 299, the protoype B-17 Flying Fortress. On July 28, 1935, Wells was an observer on the first test flight and subsequent test flight of the 299, flown by Boeing chief test pilot Leslie "Les" R. Tower.
Wells was named Boeing's chief engineer in 1943. In addition to the B-17, he helped design the Boeing 707 and 747. During his time at Boeing, Wells also served as senior vice president and on the board of directors.
Wells married Dorothy Evangeline Ostlund (1911-1995) on August 25, 1934. The couple had a daughter, Laurie Jo. Edward C. Wells died on July 1, 1986 in Bellevue, Washington.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Edward C. Wells Boeing Model 299 logbook and letter
Collection
Identifier: 2010-06-17
Contents of the Collection
The collection contains two items: the original logbook for flight tests of the Boeing Model 299, and a letter from Boeing engineer Edward C. Wells to his father, Edward L. Wells. The logbook, "Log of Plane. Mod - 299. MFG - 1963," includes the license number (13372) and one page of test flight information for eighteen flights, starting on July 28, 1935 and ending on October 24, 1935. The logbook includes the date, length of flight, origination and destination, and purpose, such as...
Harold W. Zipp Collection
Collection
Identifier: 1992-11-12
Abstract
Harold W. Zipp was an engineer at the Boeing Company for forty years. The collection documents his career, particularly his tenure in Wichita, Kansas, with diaries, photographs and other documents.