SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Without diminishing the original contribution of many figures who were bom and trained in America, the pervasive influence of international factors in the evolution of American aviation has been significant. Prior to World War I, European experience often provided the starting points for successful aeronautical investigations and served as the model for research institutions like the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. During and after the war, a considerable number of European emigres brought knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, providing a distinct legacy in both theoretical and applied aeronautics. There were degree programs at a handful of universities, but hardly a nucleus large enough to train hundreds of aero engineers needed to sustain a major aviation industry. Despite production of the DH-4 and biplane trainers during the war, there was still no comprehensive infrastructure to serve the requirements of aeronautics. During the 1920s and 1930s the Europeans helped fill these gaps. They were the theoreticians for the NACA; educators in universities; organizers of professional societies; leaders in industry.

During the decades between World War I and World War II, it might have been possible for Americans themselves to fill in the gaps in the aeronautical infrastructure. But it would have required many additional years, and America may not have been prepared for World War II. America’s postwar success in jet engines and high-speed flight technology likewise received invaluable momentum from foreign legacies. It might have been possible for the United States to develop large rockets for space exploration without the contributions of the von Braun team, but the lunar landing would probably have occurred in the 1970s, not the 1960s. Through professional literature, individuals, and hardware, the European influence on American aviation and aerospace history has been profound. Minus that influence, the record of American achievements in flight would have been dramatically diminished.