West Coast contributions to the development of the general-purpose computer: building Maddida and the founding of computer research corporation

The story told here is of the members of a computer group - established by Northrop Aircraft in the mid-1940's to develop a guidance system for a US Air Force missile - who subsequently founded a company that designed and built a general-purpose, digital computer. Successful, but in need of funds, the company was eventually absorbed by a larger enterprise.