Felger Carbon wrote:
That was at Los Alamos, NM. Not related to aerodynamics.

NACA and its successor, NASA, used "group[s] of ladies in a
room". The title for that job was "Computer." That work was most
definitely related to aerodynamics.

Here's a quote from the book "Engineer in Charge," subtitled "A History
of the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, 1917-1958":

--start of quote--
As the test began, two researchers peered through small glass portals in
the side of the tank, operating a signal system that triggered different
lights as the airspeed became constant or when a problem arose. These
men called out their readings of the balance scales to a recorder who
simultaneously read aloud, from his panel of instruments, tank pressure
and temperature of the manometer liquid. For scale-effect comparisons,
the VDT staff made the tests at a constant airspeed (approximately 50
miles per hour) and at five different tank pressures (Usually 1, 2.5, 5,
10, and 20 atomospheres) and then tested airfoils of closely related
characteristics at 20 atomospheres only. Modifying a particular feature
of a model while keeping all its other characteristics constant enabled
the staff to compare the aerodynamic effects on each new shape with
those on the original. When all the necessary readings had been taken,
someone shut the drive motor off and opened a blow-off valve which
released the pressurized air. The calculation, plotting, and final
processing of data took weeks. "Computers" existed in those days--but
being human, they had to eat lunch, and wanted coffee breaks!
--end of quote--

This particular paragraph concerns work done in the Variable Density
Tunnel which began operation in 1922.

B.S.