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The Douglas Aircraft Company, founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas Sr. in Southern California, played a significant role in the early days of American aerospace and defense manufacturing. The company gained prominence during World War II with aircraft such as the C-47 Skytrain and A-26 Invader, and later entered the commercial aviation market with piston-engine airliners like the DC-4, DC-6, and DC-7.
Following World War II, Douglas shifted its focus to jet-powered aircraft. In response to a US Air Force requirement for a jet refueling tanker in the early 1950s—a contract ultimately awarded to Boeing—Douglas developed what would become the DC-8 jetliner. The project was officially launched in 1955. That same year, Pan American World Airways placed orders for both Boeing 707s and Douglas DC-8s, soon followed by other major airlines including United Airlines, National Airlines, KLM, Eastern Air Lines, Japan Airlines, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).
The first DC-8 flew in May 1958 and received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1959. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines introduced it into service that September. Initially offering only one variant while Boeing provided several fuselage lengths for its 707 model, Douglas struggled with sales but eventually expanded its offerings after merging with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to form McDonnell Douglas.
