Building an Aviation Empire (1923–1945)
The two decades between the early 1920s and the end of World War II mark the height of Reuben H. Fleet’s influence on American and global aviation. During this era, Fleet transformed a pair of struggling airplane companies into Consolidated Aircraft, the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States. What began as a bold entrepreneurial gamble soon became a cornerstone of national defense and commercial flight.
Fleet’s move to California helped shift America’s aviation center of gravity to the West Coast. In San Diego, Consolidated built one of the world’s most advanced aircraft facilities—employing tens of thousands during the war and shaping the city’s identity for generations.
During these years, Fleet deepened his partnership with the U.S. Navy, producing a lineage of flying boats that defined maritime aviation. This collaboration led to the creation of the PBY Catalina, one of the most iconic aircraft ever built. Catalina crews rescued downed airmen, hunted submarines, and conducted reconnaissance missions across every ocean.
At the same time, Fleet oversaw the development of the B-24 Liberator, the most produced American heavy bomber of WWII. Its speed, range, and adaptability helped turn the tide in Europe and the Pacific—cementing Consolidated’s legacy as a war-winning manufacturer.
Throughout this period, Fleet worked alongside and influenced many early aviation pioneers. His collaborations, friendships, and rivalries with some of the era’s greatest aviators shaped industry standards and helped accelerate the modernization of flight.
This was the era in which Fleet’s vision became an empire.
Explore This Era
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Founding Consolidated Aircraft (1923–1924)
How Fleet merged Dayton-Wright and Gallaudet to build the foundation of a manufacturing giant. -
Consolidated Moves West (1935–1936)
Establishing San Diego as one of the world’s premier aviation hubs. -
Navy Partnership & Flying Boat Development (1920s–1930s)
The collaboration that produced generation-defining maritime aircraft. -
Birth of the PBY Catalina (1933–1936)
The creation of the legendary flying boat that served around the world. -
Building the B-24 Liberator (1938–1945)
Designing and manufacturing the bomber that changed the course of WWII. -
Aviation Pioneers & Collaborators (1900s–1940s)
Fleet’s connections with the influential aviators, engineers, and innovators who shaped early flight.