Lawrence Dale Bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Dale Bell
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| Born | April 5, 1894 Mentone, Indiana, US
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| Died | October 20, 1956 (aged 62) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | industrialist |
| Known for | Bell Aircraft Corporation |
| Awards | Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1944) |
Lawrence Dale "Larry" Bell (April 5, 1894 – October 20, 1956) was a famous American businessman. He founded the Bell Aircraft Corporation, a company that built many important airplanes and helicopters.
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Larry Bell's Early Life
Larry Bell was born in Mentone, Indiana, in 1894. When he was about 13, his family moved to Santa Monica, California. In 1912, he started working as a mechanic. He helped his older brother Grover and a stunt pilot named Lincoln Beachey with their planes.
Sadly, his brother Grover died in a plane crash a year later. Larry was very upset and wanted to leave aviation forever. But his friends convinced him to return, and he joined the Glenn L. Martin Company. At just 20 years old, he became the shop foreman. Later, he became the company's general manager. In 1915, he married Lucille Mainwaring.
Founding Bell Aircraft
In 1928, Larry Bell left the Martin Company. He joined Consolidated Aircraft in Buffalo, New York. He became a vice president and general manager there. When Consolidated Aircraft moved to San Diego, Larry Bell decided to stay in Buffalo.
On July 10, 1935, he started his own company. He called it Bell Aircraft Corporation. He began with 56 employees. In 1938, he visited Germany with other business leaders. He saw a helicopter called the Focke-Wulf Fw 61. He also learned about how German aircraft factories were set up. He used these ideas for his own plant in Niagara Falls.
Bell Aircraft's Famous Planes
During World War II, Bell Aircraft built many important planes. These included the P-39 Airacobra and the P-63 Kingcobra fighter planes. Bell's P-59 Airacomet was America's first jet-powered aircraft.
After the war, Bell Aircraft made history again. They built the Bell X-1. This was the first aircraft to fly faster than the sound barrier in level flight. This amazing flight happened in 1947.
Helicopters and Legacy
Bell Aircraft also started developing helicopters in 1941. The first one, the Bell 30, flew in 1943. This led to the Bell 47, which was the first helicopter approved for civilian use. Over 5,600 Bell 47s were built. They were used in the Korean War and for many other jobs around the world.
Perhaps Bell's most lasting achievement is the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, often called the "Huey." More than 16,000 Hueys have been made. Advanced versions are still being built today. The Huey changed how the U.S. Army used aircraft during the Vietnam War. It became one of the most famous aircraft ever.
For his part in the X-1's first supersonic flight, Larry Bell received the 1947 Collier Trophy. He shared this award with the pilot, Chuck Yeager, and scientist John Stack from NASA. Larry Bell also received the Daniel Guggenheim Medal in 1944. He was honored after his death by being added to several halls of fame. These include the National Aviation Hall of Fame (1977) and the International Aerospace Hall of Fame (2004).
Places Named After Larry Bell
Many places and awards are named after Larry Bell:
- The Bell Memorial Public Library in Mentone, Indiana, was built with money Larry Bell gave. He wanted it to be a memorial for his parents.
- The Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum is also in Mentone. It shows items from his life and aviation history.
- L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, is on land Bell donated.
- The Helicopter Association International gives a Lawrence D. Bell Memorial Award. This award recognizes excellent leadership in the civilian helicopter industry.
- Larry Bell Park in Marietta, Georgia, is also named after him.
Images for kids
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Workers assembling P-39 Airacobra planes at a Bell plant near Niagara Falls, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Lawrence Bell para niños
