Finding aid for the Maynard L. Flickinger Papers


Title:
Maynard L. Flickinger Papers
Repository:
Archives and Special Collections, University Libraries, The University of Akron
Phone: 330-972-7670
http://www.uakron.edu/libraries/archives
Creator:
Flickinger, M. L. (Maynard L.), 1900-1990
Dates:
1924-1987
Bulk dates:
1929-1959
Quantity:
1 cubic feet (1 box)
Abstract:
The Maynard L. Flickinger Papers were created while Flickinger worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.'s Aeronautics Department, Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation, and Goodyear Aircraft Corporation. The papers predominantly contain photographs and printed materials pertaining to an airship design or airship travel, especially the USS Akron and the USS Macon.
Identification:
99/131
Location:
Archival Services, Polsky Building, LL-10
Language:
The records are in English

Biography of Maynard L. Flickinger

Maynard L. Flickinger was born in Barberton, Ohio, in 1900 and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1921. He came to Akron in 1923 to work at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on the semi-rigid airship RS-1 for the U.S. Army. When that job was finished, he was assigned to the planning department.

After the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation was formed to build rigid airships, he interviewed with that division's head, Dr. Karl Arnstein. "Flick" was hired and given a job just outside Arnstein's office. One of his first projects was to draw the largest possible rigid airship that could be constructed in Goodyear's only hanger in 1925, the one located at the company's Wingfoot Lake base.

Flickinger helped to write speeches and reports for the German-speaking engineers Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp. brought to Akron to direct rigid airship construction. In 1926, Flickinger was assigned to preliminary design. By 1929, he was one of the most trusted engineers. Flickinger also had lessons in airship flying from Goodyear's chief blimp pilot, Jack Boettner.

Flickinger also worked on the design of the ZRS-4 (USS Akron) and participated in the first trial flight of that airship. He also worked on the design of the ZRS-5 (USS Macon). Flickinger contributed to the design of the Navy's L and K-ship blimps of the late 1930s that he helped to develop further in World War II. He was a trouble-shooter for problems that arose with the airships and contributed to solutions involving the landing gear, mooring system and load-bearing fabric patches. During the war and afterward, Flickinger was in charge of field service (including responsibility for service bulletins) and handbooks for the U.S. Navy airships and also the Goodyear-built F2G-1 Corsair Navy Fighter plane.

After WWII, Flickinger worked on various airship proposals, including one for a nuclear-powered blimp, and on design of all the Navy blimps from the "Nan" N-ships (later designated ZPG-2) through the early-warning radar equipped ZPG-3W airship. He retired in 1965 with 42 years' continuous service. He died in Akron on October 8, 1990.

Scope and Content

The Maynard L. Flickinger Papers contains memoranda, reports, photographs, and printed materials produced by Flickinger while working successively for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.'s Aeronautics Department, Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation, and Goodyear Aircraft Corporation. The papers predominantly contain photographs and printed materials pertaining to an airship design or airship travel, especially the USS Akron and the USS Macon. The photographs also include a set of published and unpublished stereoscopic (stereo view) card photographs of these airships. In addition to U.S. airships, there are also materials on German airships of the 1920s and 1930s. Most of the material in the papers range from 1929 to the 1950s, and included information on several types of Goodyear-built airships, including both military and civilian blimps.

Statement of Arrangement

Arrangement follows original order.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.

Restrictions on Access

No restrictions on use; except not available through interlibrary loan.

Related Material: Related Material

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Records; Lockheed Martin Tactical Defense System Records; Willard P. Seiberling Papers


Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Airships

Persons:

Flickinger, M. L. (Maynard L.), 1900-1990

Organizations/Corporations:

Akron (Airship)
Goodyear Aircraft Corporation
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Aeronautics Dept.
Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation
Macon (Airship)

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Maynard L. Flickinger Papers, Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron, Akron Ohio.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Mr. Flickinger's heirs in February 2001

Bibliography

Sources: Buoyant Flight 20, no. 1 (November-December, 1972): 1, 2; Buoyant Flight 20, no. 2 (January-February, 1973): 2, 4-5; Buoyant Flight 29, no. 3 (March-April, 1982): 1; Buoyant Flight 29, no. 5 (July-August, 1982): 2, 4; Buoyant Flight 38, no. 3 (March-April, 1991): 7-2