Frank Eber Goddard Jr.

Torrance, Calif. – Frank Eber Goddard Jr., 92, Torrance, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Torrance.He was born April 18, 1915, in Fall River, Mass., the son of Frank Eber Goddard Sr. and Marion Thompson. He grew up in Attleboro, Mass., and attended Attleboro High School. He received a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering in 1937 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a doctorate in 1957 from the California Institute of Technology.From 1937 to 1940, Mr. Goddard worked in San Diego for Consolidated Aircraft, where he contributed to the design and wind tunnel testing of aircraft, including the seaplanes PB-Y, model 31 experimental flying boat and the long-range strategic bomber XB-24. He was chief of the Aerodynamics Research Section from 1940 to 1947 at the Glenn L. Martin Co., where he worked on the B-26, Martin Mars four-engine flying boat, XB-48 and the XP4M-1 Patrol Plane.From 1949 to 1977, he worked in Pasadena at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he tested supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnel and ballistic missile technology on the Corporal and Sergeant rockets. He also worked on the early lunar orbiters and landers for the Mariner and Viking missions to Mars and the Voyager planetary spacecraft.He enjoyed jazz, golf and poetry.Survivors include his wife, Irene Goddard, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; a son, Stephen Goddard, Lawrence, Kan.; a sister Helen Boyers, Medina, Ohio; a stepdaughter, Daiva Kianersi, San Pedro, Calif.; three grandchildren, Erica, Emily and Caitlin Goddard; a stepgrandson, Adam Brown; and a great-grandson, Nathan Brown.The family suggests memorials to the Planetary Society, www.planetary.org, Frank E. Goddard Memorial.