World War II Honoree
Civilian on the Home Front
Jean Paul "J. Paul" Getty
Hometown
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Honored By
Pearl Thomas
Relationship
Grateful American
During the war years, he gained ownership of the Spartan Aircraft Company and the Spartan School of Aeronautics. The Navy requested that he help revitalize Tulsa's aviation industry. He procured war contracts to build the NP-1, a Navy training aircraft. Following came other contracts for Grumman fighter plane parts and parts for other wartime aircraft. The Spartan School of Aeronautics was used to train military pilot recruits.