Rare Cold War Era Career Archive

The Man Who Worked at Skunk Works: A Daughter's Story of James Ronald Beam
The Man Who Worked at Skunk Works: A Daughter's Story of James Ronald Beam
Some men come home every night. My father came home every two weeks. This is the story of James Ronald Beam — Flight Line Supervisor at Lockheed Skunk Works, Cold... Read more...
Signed U-2 retirement photo — Lockheed Skunk Works
Inside the Skunk Works: The Remarkable 32-Year Career of James Ronald Beam
At Lockheed's legendary Advanced Development Programs division — known to the world as the Skunk Works — secrecy was a way of life. The men and women who worked there... Read more...
Maracas Bay, Trinidad — where the Beam family spent their Sundays during 18 months on the island
The Plane My Father Built: A Delivery Flight, a New Life, and Maracas Bay
On January 27th, 1980, I boarded an airplane for the very first time.I was 15 years old, a 10th grader, and the plane was a brand new Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.... Read more...
Inside the Archive: My Father's 32 Years at Lockheed Skunk Works
Inside the Archive: My Father's 32 Years at Lockheed Skunk Works
A complete Cold War era career archive belonging to James Ronald Beam, Flight Line Supervisor at Lockheed's legendary Skunk Works division, spanning 1958–1990. Read more...