From what I remember reading, Eastman N. Jacobs, a scientist at NACA from 1925-1944, who was an expert in high speed wind-tunnels and airfoil research had planned on building an eight-stage axial-flow turbocharger compressor, which would later be the inspiration for turbojet-engine design.
From what I recall he began the design in 1938: The problem is when the design was first run. I've been doing research and cannot seem to find anything on when it was first run. I know it ended with a catastrophic failure, with him eventually giving up and deciding that it was a fatal-flaw in the design, though another designer named Eugene Wasilewski continuing to pursue the idea a bit longer.
From what I recall he began the design in 1938: The problem is when the design was first run. I've been doing research and cannot seem to find anything on when it was first run. I know it ended with a catastrophic failure, with him eventually giving up and deciding that it was a fatal-flaw in the design, though another designer named Eugene Wasilewski continuing to pursue the idea a bit longer.