LeTourneau Technical Institute

  February 1946 to present

  United States of America

TYPE: Educational organization

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Longview, TX

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: LeTourneau University (LETU)

LeTourneau Technical Institute was founded in February 1946 by R. G. LeTourneau, a businessman who made a fortune designing and producing earthmovers. The facility was established in Longview, TX on the grounds of a former military hospital, and initially focused on providing an education to WWII veterans freshly released from service. The main majors initially offered were engineering, aeronautical science, education and business. Engineering students often shared their time between studying at the institute and working at the LeTourneau factory located nearby, thereby providing them with valuable hands-on experience.

LeTourneau's involvement in aviation included the development of a VIP version of the Douglas A-26 Invader. Very few of these were ever sold, but R. G. LeTourneau himself used one of these aircraft for his personal transportation. LeTourneau Technical Institute and parent company LeTourneau Inc. presumably worked on other aviation projects, possibly Commando-based.

In 1989, the institute was renamed LeTourneau University, and it keeps on operating to this day.

1953* to 1958*

LeTourneau purchased at least one Commando from RFC. The latter was offering aircraft at discounted prices to educational institutions, provided they be used for ground instructional purposes only and never to be flown again. LeTourneau apparently did use its Commando for as a ground instruction airframe, however they later sold it to International Airports Inc. who refurbished it and put it back in the air.

• Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: N68823