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In June 1943, under the supervision of the engineer, Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, Lockheed created the "Skunk Works" as an advanced research and development center and manufacturing facility charged with producing a jet aircraft; this top-secret installation had a leading hand in the development of the XP-80, the U-2, the F-104 and the Blackbird family of supersonic jets; the name derived from the foul odor of plastic that permeated the original tented facility; a plastic manufacturing plant was located next door in 1943; at the same time, the cartoon strip,'Li'l Abner" by Al Capp also featured a mysterious moonshine-making facility called the "Skonk Works,'and an engineer at the plant, Irv Culver, associated the two; gradually, the name "Skonk Works" came to be called "Skunk Works;"

PCAD id: 5354