Among the Minnesota companies that converted to defense manufacturing during World War II was Honeywell, known before the war for its thermostat technology. In 1941 the company developed the C-1, the first automatic pilot control system for bomber planes. The device helped to stablize the plane on bombing runs to increase accuracy. From 1941 until 1945, Honeywell made 35,000 auto pilot control devices for the military - including those installed on the two B-29s that carried the atomic bombs to Japan.
Creator: Minneapolis Star Journal
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society
Date: 1945
Identifer: location HD4.2 p79
