by Marvin H.
The year was 1938, and the threat of war
was looming over Europe. In dire need of a bomber to patrol its coastal
shorelines, England sent a team, led by Lord Halifax, to America to find a
suitable airplane. Lockheed quickly mocked up an Electra to simulate a bomber
and presented it to the search team. Lord Halifax liked it and the result was
an order for 200 bombers.
To fill the huge contract, hundreds of new
workers were needed. The company sent teams to all of the local towns offering
employment to any who could pass a series of tests. I was, fortunately, one of
six in my home town of Santa Ana who passed.
Lockheed sent us to a local aircraft
training school for two weeks where we learned to drill holes and shoot rivets.
We were then hired and given two more weeks of training at the company training
facility. I started on swing shift building wing flaps and after several months
was upgraded to a tool planner.
In the following years I worked at the
Georgia facility, and later transferred back to the missile division in
Sunnyvale, California. I retired in 1976, after 37 plus years of an enjoyable
career and am now secure in a comfortable life with the support of my Lockheed
retirement benefits.
I will always be grateful for the
opportunities given and the experience gained from this great company. Thank you, Lockheed
Martin.
