History
by Alexander J. Smits and Courtland D. Perkins
A brief account is given of the history of aerospace education and research at Princeton University for the period 1942 to 1975. This period covers the initial establishment of the Aeronautical Engineering in 1942, its move to Forrestal Campus, and the eventual return to Main Campus.
by Alexander J. Smits and Richard B. Miles
The Princeton Gasdynamics Laboratory was founded in about 1950 by Lester Lees and Seymour Bogdonoff. Bogdonoff became its Director in 1953, and remained in that post until 1989. Under his direction the Laboratory became a national powerhouse in aeronautical research. At its peak, the laboratory employed about six or seven faculty, maybe 50 graduate students, and 10 or 12 research associates and technicians, all working with a large range of wind tunnels designed by Bogdonoff, often aided by his close associate Irwin Vas. Here, we review some of the history and accomplishments of the Gasdynamics Laboratory."
Edwin Baetjer was one of the first graduates in Aeronautical Engineering at Princeton. He was killed on a bombing mission in China during WWII. His bequest to the University established the Special Collection of Aeronautical Engineering Books previously housed in the Forrestal Center Library. A Memorial Conference Room was built at Forrestal in his honor.