Donovan R. Berlin

Donovan R. Berlin earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1921 and an honorary doctorate in 1953. He began his aviation career at Douglas Aircraft Company in 1926 and joined Northrop Corporation in 1929 before moving to Curtiss-Wright in 1934. At Curtiss-Wright, Berlin became renowned for his contributions to military aviation worldwide, designing fighter planes noted for their safety, durability and pilot-friendliness. Among his design accomplishments, the P36 and P40 fighter planes became two of the most widely used aircraft in World War II.