by John B.
After serving in the
Pacific during World War II, Walt Bronson’s career started in 1953 at Lockheed
Aircraft Service in Ontario, California. On the flight line, he serviced
aircraft (including President Eisenhower’s “Columbine”), helped “catch” the
Russians after Sputnik, lived in Brazil for six months, then settled for 16
years in Sunnyvale with the FBM program. A 1974 executive role supporting the
Iranian Air Force ended with the Shah of Iran’s fall in January 1979. Iranian
mobs stoned their airport evacuation bus; onboard the evacuation aircraft were
employees, dependents, pets and whatever else fit. Iranian orders prohibiting
take-off were ignored, Pan Am 2 started its engines and left. Afterwards,
Walt’s wife Helen scrutinized images from Iran, looking for who was wearing the
clothes she left behind. After working in Saudi Arabia, Walt retired from
Lockheed in 1986. However, in 1992, shortly before he passed away, he was
called to testify at the World Court regarding Lockheed-Iranian financial
settlements. Despite poor health, Walt spoke articulately for his company, one
last time.
In 1973, John Bronson began
a very satisfying career at Lockheed and Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale, as an
accountant, management systems analyst and manager. In 1986, John helped
startup LTOC/LMTO, where he worked until retirement in 2005.
Walt and John Bronson had,
at that point, logged 52 years with the company. Over half of its lifetime! So
many great stories, events and people. Thanks for the memories and best wishes
to the future.
