Skip to main content

Archives at The Museum of Flight


Lear, William P., Jr., 1928-2009

 Person

Biographical Note

William Lear, Jr. was a pilot and one of the sons of William P. Lear, Sr. and Moya Olsen Lear.

Bill Lear, Jr. was born in 1928. He began flying at age 15. In 1946 and 1947, he flew in the Bendix Race. In 1948, Lear enlisted in the United States Air Force. After completing training, he was assigned to the 22nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron (the “Bumblebees”), 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Furstenfeldbruck AFB. After three years of military service, Lear moved to Geneva, Switzerland in 1956. He became President of Lear S.A. and Director of European Operations for Lear, Incorporated.

He remained in Geneva for quite some time, and lived briefly in England. In his later years, Lear, Jr. resided in Florida. He died December 14, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Series XV. Personal, 1910-2002, undated

 Series
Scope and Contents: Personal The Personal series consists of materials related to WPL’s and MOL’s professional lives but which are not directly tied to any of the companies. The series is divided into four subseries: William P. Lear, Moya Olsen Lear, Lear Family, and General. Each of these has been further broken down and are clarified below. Materials are generally, but not always, arranged by date, with undated items at...
Dates: 1910-2002, undated
Found in: The Museum of Flight Archives / William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers

Subseries C. Family, 1938-2001, undated

 Sub-Series
Scope and Contents: Personal From the Series: The Personal series consists of materials related to WPL’s and MOL’s professional lives but which are not directly tied to any of the companies. The series is divided into four subseries: William P. Lear, Moya Olsen Lear, Lear Family, and General. Each of these has been further broken down and are clarified below. Materials are generally, but not always, arranged by date, with undated items at...
Dates: 1938-2001, undated
Found in: The Museum of Flight Archives / William P. and Moya Olsen Lear Papers / Series XV. Personal

The Museum of Flight | 9404 E. Marginal Way South | Seattle WA 98108-4097 | 206-764-5874
Contact us with a research request
curator@museumofflight.org