World War II Honoree

Arthur B. Cooper

Hometown

Washington, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Virginia Cooper Swaggard

Relationship

Daughter

WORKED AT JESSOP STEEL IN PENNSYLVANIA. HE LED THE TECHNICAL GROUP THAT DEVELOPED ARMOR-PLATE THAT WAS USED ON PLANES AND SHIPS DURING WWII. HE WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS AN AUTHORITY ON PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES IN THE MAKING OF STAINLESS AND TOOL STEELS. ORDNANCE OFFICIALS CREDITED HIS DEVELOPMENT OF ARMOR-PLATE WITH GIVING U.S. PILOTS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER AN 'EVEN BREAK' AGAINST FASTER JAPANESE ZEROS. THE SAME ARMOR PLATE DEVELOPED BY HIM AND HIS TEAM WAS USED IN THE MAKING OF THE ATOM BOMB. HE WAS ALSO PERMITTED TO SET UP A FIRING RANGE AT THE PLANT TO DO BALLISTICS TESTS WITH HEAVY CALIBER MACHINE GUNS AND LIGHT CANNONS.