Helping you make smart bankruptcy decisions

Has a component company of the Dow Jones Industrial Average ever filed for bankruptcy?

news is that GM will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. GM is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (one of the 30). Is this the first time in the history of the average that this has happened?

Yes the Dow Jones site offers a great interactive history, the following companies went bankrupt while they were still a component:
U.S. Cordage
Johns-Manville Corporation
Woolworth Corporation