As debate rages about the suitability of Stephanie Pope to lead Boeing Commercial Airplanes it is well to remember that Bill Allen, a lawyer, was without a doubt its greatest president and launched a raft of aircraft that changed aviation.
Many have questioned Ms Pope’s qualifications to turn the commercial division of the aerospace giant around pointing out that she is not an engineer.
For background, 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.
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![Bill Allen](https://www.airlineratings.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
![Bill Allen](https://www.airlineratings.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
![Bill Allen](https://www.airlineratings.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)