Benjamin S. Kelsey Military person

Benjamin Scovill "Ben" Kelsey (March 9, 1906 – March 3, 1981) was an American aeronautical engineer and test pilot who brought success in World War II to the United States Army Air Forces by initiating the manufacture of innovative fighter aircraft designs, and by working to quickly increase American fighter production to meet the needs of the coming war.Kelsey co-authored the technical specifications which led to the development of the P-39 Airacobra and the P-38 Lightning. He worked around Air Corps strictures to initiate the development of drop tanks for American fighters. Kelsey was the driving force behind a program of advanced airfoil research which eventually resulted in the P-51 Mustang. After the war, Kelsey served in various staff assignments supervising weather operations, personnel and materiel. He was an important committee member of the group that approved and funded the rocket-powered North American X-15.

Personal facts

Alias (AKA)	Ben
Birth date	March 09, 1906
Birth place	Waterbury Connecticut
Date of death	March 03, 1981
Place of death	Stevensburg Virginia

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Military person

award	Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army) Legion of Merit Croix de guerre Air Medal Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Octave Chanute Award Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)
military branch	United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces
service start	1929
service end	1955