William Boeing

American aviation pioneer (1881–1956) who founded the Pacific Airplane Company in 1916, renamed Boeing a year later. He designed and flew the Boeing Model 1 (B&W Seaplane) in June 1916, helped create United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in 1929, and received the Daniel Guggenheim Medal in 1934.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, and educated at Yale University, Boeing left the aviation industry after the 1934 antitrust breakup of United Aircraft but returned during World War II to assist with military production.