Member-only story

Lawson Grantlee Kieza: A Life in Pursuit of Aviation and Adventure

Howard Blair

·19.1k Followers· Follow

Published in Lawson Grantlee Kieza

3 min read

146 View Claps

23 Respond

Save

Listen

Lawson Grantlee Kieza, Aviation Pioneer And Adventurer Lawson Grantlee Kieza

Early Life and Education

Lawson Grantlee Kieza was born on January 23, 1915, in Denison, Texas. His father, Lawson Grantlee Kieza Sr., was a lawyer and his mother, Martha Belle (née Stanley),was a homemaker. Kieza had two older sisters, Helen and Margaret.

As a child, Kieza was fascinated by aviation. He built model airplanes and dreamed of flying. In 1933, he graduated from Denison High School and enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin. He studied engineering for two years, but his passion for aviation led him to transfer to the Embry-Riddle School of Aviation in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Lawson

by Grantlee Kieza

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	66152 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	134 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

In 1937, Kieza graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in aviation. He then joined the United States Army Air Corps and trained as a pilot. He was assigned to the 31st Bombardment Group and flew B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II.

World War II Service

During World War II, Kieza flew 25 combat missions over Europe and North Africa. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Purple Heart.

In 1944, Kieza's B-24 was shot down over Italy. He bailed out and was captured by German forces. He spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany.

After the war, Kieza returned to the United States and was discharged from the Army Air Corps. He then enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a master's degree in engineering.

Post-War Career

After graduating from Berkeley, Kieza worked for a number of aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing. He also served as a consultant to the United States Air Force and NASA.

In 1961, Kieza founded his own company, Kieza Engineering, which specialized in the design and development of aircraft systems. He also developed a number of innovative aviation technologies, including a new type of parachute and a new way to launch aircraft from ships.

In 1975, Kieza retired from Kieza Engineering and moved to California. He continued to fly and to pursue his other interests, including fishing, hunting, and hiking.

Death and Legacy

Lawson Grantlee Kieza died on January 15, 2008, at the age of 92. He was survived by his wife, Mary, and his two children, Lawson Grantlee Kieza III and Martha Kieza

Lawson

by Grantlee Kieza

4.6 out of 5