Donald L. Putt

Donald Leander Putt (May 14, 1905 – November 24, 1988) was a United States Air Force lieutenant general and aeronautical engineer. He commanded the Air Research and Development Command and later served as deputy chief of staff for development and military director of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.

Early life and education Putt was born May 14, 1905, in Sugarcreek, Ohio. He graduated in 1928 from the Carnegie Institute of Technology with a B.S. in electrical engineering. He received an M.S. in aeronautical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1938. The plane stalled and crashed, killing the pilot Ployer Peter Hill and Boeing's chief test pilot Leslie Tower, although Putt survived with severe injuries. Putt subsequently served in engineering posts at Wright Field, including chief of the Experimental Bombardment Aircraft Branch during development of the B-24, B-29, B-36, and other aircraft.

Later career In 1959, after retirement from the military, Putt joined United Aircraft and founded what became the Chemical Systems division in Sunnyvale, California. The division manufactured solid-fuel rockets for space flights. He retired from United Aircraft in 1970.

Honors Decorations: Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster; French Croix de Guerre with palm. Rated as a command pilot and technical observer. Received an honorary doctor of engineering degree from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute on June 15, 1954.

Personal life and death Putt was married to Margaret Putt, who predeceased him; they had one son, William D. Putt.

Putt died November 24, 1988, in Menlo Park, California, at age 83, and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery beside his wife.