Research Work Attracts Bachelors to West Coast Naval Laboratories
March 1955 Air Trails Hobbies for Young Men

March 1955 Air Trails

March 1955 Air Trails Cover - Airplanes and RocketsTable of Contents

These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

$11,800 per year for engineers working in defense laboratories in 1955 is the equivalent of about $104,300 in 2016, according to the Inflation Calculator hosted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That's probably a pretty accurate reflection of today's average salary for an experienced engineer. Now, as then, some of the most technically challenging and interesting research projects are done under the auspices of the Federal government - primarily because they have the most money to throw at experiments and production concepts without having to produce implementable results. That is not to say the people working on the projects don't care - most of them are deeply committed - it's just that the funding is confiscated (taxes), not earned, so the loss that accompanies failure is mostly felt personally, not institutionally.

Research Work Attracts Bachelors to West Coast Naval Laboratories

They serve the U. S. Navy by contributing skill and knowledge as civilian engineers

Radio, radar and acoustics research - Airplanes and Rockets

Radio, radar and acoustics research is conducted at the Navy Electronics Lab, San Diego. Here antenna radiation pattern is checked.

Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake - Airplanes and Rockets

Mechanical engineers play a prominent part in the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, in development of guided missile systems.

ears of a submarine are the complex Sonar gear - Airplanes and Rockets

The ears of a submarine are the complex Sonar gear. Its continuous improvement must be in the hands of expert electronic engineers.

Young men with a bachelor degree in engineering are afforded a fine opportunity to further their professional skills at the several Naval Laboratories located in California. Representing some of the highest paid jobs in Civil Service with salaries ranging as high as $11,800 per year, the work embraces some of the broadest fields in engineering and science. This together with pleasant climatic and living conditions, plus various benefits offered by the "Service," attracts many a young scientist, engineer and technician to these Navy installations. The work is not all routine, by any means, and ingenuity and resourcefulness are at a premium. The order may call, for example, for the design of a rocket launcher, an experimental airframe for a guided missile or a quick-assembly, prefabricated structure. Professional self-development is encouraged. Undergraduate and graduate courses are given by the University of California on laboratory premises in order that employees may complete requirements for advanced engineering and science degrees. Seminars, symposiums and panel discussions feature nationally known luminaries in the field. Though an engineering degree is generally required for professional positions, applicants who do not possess one can qualify if they have had four years of technical experience or a combination of technical experience and education which gives them a background of knowledge in fundamental engineering and science equivalent to university graduates.

(Photos and material courtesy of U.S. Navy and Board of U.S. Civil Service Examiners for Scientists and Engineers. For information concerning professional and technical positions, write the Board at 1030 E. Green St., Pasadena 1, Calif.)

Naval Ordnance, Pasadena Annex - Airplanes and Rockets

Metallurgy as well must keep abreast with today's weapons. Pouring magnesium casting at Naval Ordnance, Pasadena Annex.

Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Mugu - Airplanes and Rockets

Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Mugu employs 2000 scientists and technicians on design, development and testing of these weapons.

Naval Civil Engineering Research and Evaluation Labs - Airplanes and Rockets

One of the many projects at Naval Civil Engineering Research and Evaluation Labs is to test runways for effects of jet exhaust heat.

Engineers can solve them with 3-dimensional plant layouts - Airplanes and Rockets

Manufacturing problems often affect design and specification of weapons. Engineers can solve them with 3-dimensional plant layouts.

Naval Ordnance Test Station they operate Electronic Analog Computer - Airplanes and Rockets

Mathematicians contribute to modern scientific research. At Naval Ordnance Test Station they operate Electronic Analog Computer.

Chemist does the job at Radiological Defense Lab - Airplanes and Rockets

Whether its decontamination of radioactive areas or testing of various propellants, the chemist does the job at Radiological Defense Lab.

Missile systems study shown here is part of the physicist's job at Naval Ordnance Lab - Airplanes and Rockets

Missile systems study shown here is part of the physicist's job at Naval Ordnance Lab. Other research concerns upper air investigation.

Engineer here studies wave action in a waterfront structures - Airplanes and Rockets

The engineer here studies wave action in a waterfront structures facility at the Naval Civil Engineering Research and Evaluation Lab.

 

 

Posted February 20, 2016