Bill Allen was without a doubt Boeing’s greatest President and launched a raft of aircraft that changed aviation.
William McPherson Allen was born on September 1, 1900, at Lolo, Montana, and he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1925. He joined the Board of Boeing Air Transport in 1930 while remaining an employee of his Seattle law firm, Donworth, Todd & Higgins.
Just one year later he joined the Board of Boeing Airplane Company as corporate counsel.
In 1944 he was appointed President of Boeing as then Chairman Claire Egtvedt did not think any of the company’s senior engineers had enough background to run the company.
Allen, likewise thought himself unqualified to run an aerospace company and initially declined before being talked into taking on the role.
He would become Boeing’s longest-serving President with tenure from September 1, 1945, until April 29, 1968. He then served as the chairman from 1968 through 1972.
While at the helm he launched the B-47, B-52, 707, 720, 727, 737 and 747 and stamped Boeing as the world’s largest builder of commercial aircraft.
Here is a collection of photos of highlights in his career. The photos are from Boeing’s Historical Archives and are all colourised by Benoit Vienne.
