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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Carl D. May

O D May worked for Curtiss Aeroplane Co. from 1916 thru 1919. He started as a draftsman on parts for the R-2 and the JN Jennies. Shortly thereafter he was put in charge of all production control ordering for materials anticipating full production of JNs and orders received from France, England and Italy. At the end of the war he settled all government contracts before leaving Curtiss to pursue other interests.

He returned to the aircraft industry in 1939 at Bell Aircraft Co. in Buffalo as an cost estimator. Within three months he was put in charge of the department, which was responsible for cost estimates for each part that went into the p-39 and P-63. The cost estimates were required before work could begin on government production contracts. He also did the cost estimates for the first U. S Air Force Jet, the p-59. After the contracts were approved he was made Assistant Director of Production where he developed a spare parts replacement system that was later used by other aircraft manufacturers.

When production was running smoothly he was asked to go to the Georgia Plant. When he arrived on 9-1-1944, production of B-29s was one per week and most modifications were done after the ship left the line. He set up a new Modification Dept. and when he left on 12-24-1944. B-29 production was at one per day, with most modifications made before leaving the production line at great savings in time and money. He returned to Buffalo and again left the aircraft industry to pursue other interests.

Mr. May also represented Bell Aircraft Co. on the Aircraft War Production Council, East Coast, as member of the Advisory Committee on Materials.