I know the replica prop forum (therpf.com) has been mentioned on this site before, but I'm not sure how many people here are active members/lurkers there. Anyway, they posted a three part piece about John Dykstra and his experience heading up the original incarnation ILM as they literally created the sfx techniques needed to make Star Wars possible. It's a great read, and I don't think(hope) you need to be registered there to read it (they only open up registration sporadically).
Anyway, without further adeiu,