Here's one I thought you all might enjoy and maybe have some info to share?? I know how you guys like to go on hunts so here's one for ya...:)
This pic was given to me by Wendell's grandma. Her late husband worked for Douglas Aircraft Company way back in the 1930s?? 1940s?? She wasn't sure of the years. He is the guy sitting in the front to the far left with the dark rimmed glasses.
The back of the pic says "Douglas Aircraft Co., INC. Santa Monica, California. C-13 Public Relations Library." At the top written in pencil is B74-22-9.
Apparently one of the guys in this picture was a bigwig of some sort, maybe a Vice President or President?? I can't make out his signature. Grandma wasn't sure which guy it was either but she was adamant that he was well known. Any help, info, clues, etc...would be appreciated.
PS: I have his little airplane tie tacks/cuff link things and some other airplane jewelry he got from Douglas. If any one is interested in them I'll take pics and share. Again I have no idea how old they are, what they are, etc...except that they are airplanes. 🙂
:angel: Angel
I would guess around 1960 plus or minus because of the skinny ties and the aircraft pictures in the background look like jet airliners more typical of the 1960s than the 1940s.
Yup. Probably late '50s or early '60s. Not much earlier than that.
She said he went to Japan after WWII to help re-build something that had to do with aircraft. He was there for a few years and came back speaking Japanese! I'll have to ask her if she can remember any more. I really want to know WHO the famous person in the pic is.
:angel: Angel
Possibly Donald Wills Douglas, Sr., the biggest of the big boys. He would have been 68 in 1960.
Ya know that signature looks like it has a "D" and "W" in it for the middle name. I wonder??
:angel: Angel
Definitely either Sr. or Jr.
http://www.galleryofhistory.com/archive/3_2003/aviation_space/DONALD_WILLIS_DOUGLAS_SR.htm
Definitely either Sr. or Jr.
D.W. Douglas, Sr.:
Definitely either Sr. or Jr.
http://www.historyforsale.com/html/prodetails.asp?documentid=202347&start=8&page=31
Definitely either Sr. or Jr.
I think it is Senior but the signature on this envelope 
doesn't quite match the signature on this photograph. Unless it was JR. who signed that envelope. It seems to semi resemble more of this signature. 
I am thinking it is more along the lines of Senior, with him being the guy in the middle. He looks like that pic you attached and looks like the B&W pic selling for $1499.00!! Holy Cow!! (no pun intended there, Holy Cow. hehehe)
This picture must be pre-1967 then because according to that site, on April 28, 1967, McDonnell Aircraft Co. and Douglas Aircraft Co. merged to form the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. The back of the pic is stamped "Douglas Aircraft Co." (I'll scan the back of it for ya.)
Maybe I should scan it in 600 DPH and crop his face out and compare??
:angel: Angel
I'm thinking Sr.
Ok here are two more pics. The back was IMPOSSIBLE to see without me darkening it and cropping it way down. It must of been because the typing was so light.
Back of photo. This is what it says:
Close-up of autograph and who we believe is Mr. Donald W. Douglas Senior. (The dark haired guy)Sure looks like him from what I have found on the internet!! 
What do ya think guys?! I'm excited!!! :party:
:angel: Angel
Sorry, No Dice
The person you think is Donald Douglas Sr, definately is not Donald Douglas Sr. The facial features aren't even close. The hairline is close, but the comb direction is opposite other photos of the man, and the forehead is far too pronounced. The ears do not match either.
Now, I'm not saying that the signature is not his, nor that he is not in the photo. Chances are, if he is in the photo, he is most likely the dude third from the right, back row.
AS3
Donald Wills Douglas, Jr.
>Close-up of autograph and who we believe is Mr. Donald W. Douglas Senior. (The dark haired guy)Sure looks like him from what I have found on the internet
I'd say that the dark-haired guy on the right in your photo is Donald Wills Douglas, Jr. Take a look at the photos of DWD, Jr. at this link:
Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. was born in 1892 and looked like the photo below when he was in his mid-forties (in 1937), the apparent age of the guy in the 1960's-vintage photo Angle posted:
Sorry, No Dice
I disagree Adam.
The fellow in the top center does have a resemblance and has the CEO suit and the looks and he might have the little golfer's tan also.
Everyone on his right is deferring to him by body language also.
The fellow that you mention has a plaid jacket. No way that the is the head honcho and is too pasty.
I like the guy in the front row who didn't get the 'no white socks" memo.
🙂
Sorry, No Dice
Agree with Muddy.
He is the senior. Spitting image of his earlier photos.
Corporate picture and the main man in the center up top. Hair styles and things change but that is Sr to me.
Deral
I agree with Kent
That must be Jr. The hairline is much more similar and on the envelope there are two signatures. They are Sr. and Jr. The more flamboyant signature is most likely that of Jr.
I agree with Kent
To make the point a bit better, here are the two photos. One is Donald Wills Douglas, Jr. and the other is his twin brother. Note the ears, the eyebrow, the shape of the eyes and general proportions of the faces. Same guy.
Man in Angel's photo
Reference photo of DWD, Jr.
It's one or the other...
Dang. Whoever he is he looks both like Jr and Sr. I compared photos and autographs on other sights, though, and the autograph seems to resemble more of that as Sr than Jr. Maybe I better look again.
I found a pic of SR. sitting in a different position and he had his hair EXACTLY like the pic I have. But then I see what Kent posted and damn...it looks like JR.!! ARGH!!
I am going to call Grandma later and see if I can pick her brain and see if she remembers anything. She's 91 but still going!! Heck she may have more pics. I believe she had one of just Jim and Mr. Douglas together.
Love her...:love:
:angel: Angel
Sorry, No Dice
> I like the guy in the front row who didn't get the 'no white socks" memo.
> 🙂
Wendell thought that guy was a "Kennedy". 😀
:angel: Angel
It's one or the other...
> I found a pic of SR. sitting in a different position and he had his hair EXACTLY like the pic I have. But then I see what Kent posted and damn...it looks like JR.!! ARGH!!
The features to look at carefully are the ears, nose, forehead and brow.
DWD, Sr. has a "cleft" on the lower surface of the tip of his nose that shows up in both the younger and older photos. His left (viewer's right) ear has an indentation on the outer profile, like two different curves joined together.
DWD, Jr. on the other hand, has a slightly bulbous tip of his nose without the cleft feature and his left (viewer's right) ear is a continuous curve in outline.
