Laurence Carbee Craigie

Laurence Carbee Craigie (January 26, 1902 – February 27, 1994), was an American aviator and United States Air Force general. He became the first U.S. military jet pilot in 1942 when he piloted the Bell XP-59. With Orval R. Cook he is also known as one half of the Cook-Craigie plan, a method of producing aircraft.

Biography

Born in Concord, New Hampshire, on January 26, 1902, Laurence Craigie grew up in Concord, Somerville, Massachusetts and Keene, New Hampshire. He received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and two awards of the Distinguished Service Medal for his Korean War service.

In retirement Following a heart attack in the Bavarian Alps, he retired from the Air Force on June 30, 1955. In December, he and his wife Victoria moved to Burbank, California, where he began a 25-year career in private industry. In 1956, he was a vice president of Hydro-Aire, Inc, and the following year a vice president of American Machine & Foundry Co. From 1957 to 1964 he was director of the Air Force requirements section for Lockheed Aircraft Corp.

Since 1963, he was a director of the Flying Tiger Line (a freight airline), and was on the board of Hungry Tiger, Inc. He was also on the board of directors of the Falcon Foundation since 1965. In 1971, he was with the International Science Foundation. He was self-employed as a consultant after 1971.

In May 1990, he and his wife moved into a retirement community for retired service people in Riverside, California, where he died on February 27, 1994. He was cremated, and his ashes were divided between West Point Cemetery and the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery.

Family Laurence Craigie's brother, Second Lieutenant Karl Harrold Craigie (1898–1973), A.S.A., U.S.A., was a World War I aviator. His other brother also served during the Great War—Hugh H. Craigie, Corp., Co. L, 33d U.S. (Reg.) Infantry. He was also the grandfather of folk singer John Craigie.