McDonnell Test Pilot Bob Little Honored by Missouri Aviation Historical Society

By Carmelo Turdo

The Missouri Aviation Historical Society held a special event during the Vintage Aeroplane Fly-In at Creve Coeur Airport Saturday to honor one of the St. Louis area's aviation legends, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (later McDonnell Douglas) test pilot and corporate executive Bob Little.  Known throughout the aviation community as the pilot who flew the then revolutionary McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II on its maiden flight over St. Louis on May 27, 1958, Little also flew the company's F3H Demon and F-101A/B Voodoo models on their first flights as well.  He later became the F-4 Phantom II Program Manager, Vice President of Marketing, Corporate Board Member and Vice Chairman - Government Business for McDonnell Douglas.

Left - Bob Little with first F4H-1 Phantom II (Boeing photo) and Right - Bob Little today

Bob Little's aviation career began when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and later flew 68 combat missions over Germany in a reconnaissance version of the P-51 Mustang.   Following the war and the attainment of his Bachelor's Degree from Texas A&M, he went to work for McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1948.  He was a Flight Test Engineer, Experimental Test Pilot and Chief Test Pilot for the Banshee, Demon, Voodoo and Phantom II before rising to the executive ranks.  He is also a recipient of the James H. Doolittle Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

Bob Little with Last F-4 Coin

The Missouri Aviation Historical Society (MAHS) has hosted Bob Little on several occasions, and has assisted in the production of media projects that have highlighted his role in the development of military jet technology.  In 2014, MAHS hosted a program celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the first flight of the McDonnell F-101A Voodoo with Little and other McDonnell Aircraft test pilots in attendance.  In 2016, MAHS teamed up with HEC-TV to produce a special video program, Legendary WWII and Test Pilot, Bob Little.  This HEC-TV special included footage from an historic event that occurred in May 2016 when Bob Little, the first F-4 Phantom II pilot, met USAF Lt. Col. Ron "Elvis" King, the last F-4 Phantom II pilot.  The F-4 Phantom II, or QF-4E flown by Colonel King's 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, was retired in December of 2016 following a number of airshow appearances.  A commemorative coin, featuring both Bob Little and Colonel King, has become a popular keepsake and one was given to Bob Little during Saturday's event.    

Joe Steimann and Bob Little

(Joe Steimann photo)

Saturday's tribute began with the arrival of Bob Little and his family during the airport's fly-in event, which featured Joe Steimann's restored F-4 Phantom II cockpit displayed just outside.  Little was greeted by MAHS members and retirees from McDonnell Douglas, who related their memories of working for "Mr. Mac" on various military aircraft programs and discussed the F-4's development in particular.  Dan O'Hara, MAHS President, gave a brief presentation on Bob Little's career and played the portion of the HEC-TV special featuring the meeting with Colonel King.  Little was then presented with several framed prints from the F-4 program and service units, and a custom-designed cake, featuring the Banshee, Demon, Voodoo and Phantom II jets in the icing, was cut and served.

 

The Aero Experience was proud to support this event, and thank the Missouri Aviation Historical Society, Bob Little and his family and Creve Coeur Airport for making it possible.  

St. Louis Area Aircraft Displays Honor Civilian and Military Aviation Contributors

By The Aero Experience Team

The St. Louis area is well known for the role its citizens played in the development of aviation over the last century, and there are many public expressions of appreciation for these achievements throughout the metropolitan area.  The Aero Experience will feature many of them as we progress throughout the year, including three featured here.  

The James S. McDonnell Prologue Room is a gallery located at the former McDonnell Douglas World Headquarters Building 100, Now Boeing-St. Louis headquarters, near Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.  The displays mark the milestones of aviation development by the McDonnell, Douglas, Boeing and North American corporate aviation giants.  The story is told through impressive large-scale models of the aircraft, missiles and spacecraft produced by these companies, including full-scale Mercury and Gemini spacecraft engineering fixtures.  This week The Aero Experience visited the Prologue Room off-season and have some views of the new F-4 Phantom II exhibit that greets the visitors as they enter the hall.  We will also have more behind the scenes coverage in the coming weeks, thanks to the staff at Boeing.

 

Nearby St. Clair County, Illinois hosts the Scott Field Heritage Air Park just outside of the Scott AFB Shiloh gate.  The air park is supported by the Scott Field Heritage Air Park Committee, a private, non-profit organization that has done a magnificent job setting up the air park grounds and display aircraft.  Many of the aircraft featured in the air park served at the base, and others have been added that have served in Air Mobility Command, formerly known as Military Airlift Command.  The C-21A, currently serving at Scott AFB and slated for retirement, is now also represented there.  

Another St. Louis area public aviation display can be found at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield.  In Boeing Park, a McDonnell Aircraft F-101B Voodoo is on display along with a memorial to mark 50 years of the Fabick Family's involvement with aviation, dedicated in 1995.  The McDonnell Voodoo was a classic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force and Canadian Forces for decades, and the John Fabick Tractor Company has been a customer and promoter of aviation in St. Louis for just as long.  The display is well maintained and a credit to the airport and community.

 

F-101 Pilots Relate Their Experiences With the Voodoo During Flight Tests and Operations in Hot and Cold Wars

By Carmelo Turdo

The Missouri Aviation Historical Society hosted a 60th anniversary commemoration of the first flight of the McDonnell Aircraft F-101 Voodoo November 15 at the James J. Eagan Community Center in Florissant, Missouri.  The special event was held at the Florissant location to accommodate the larger expected audience and incorporate into the event activities the F-101F Voodoo (s/n 58-0269) on display in the adjacent Florissant Valley Park.  Florissant, a northern St. Louis County suburb known for being in close proximity to the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (later McDonnell Douglas and now Boeing) manufacturing complex located at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, experienced a population boom from 1947-1980 during the company's rapid growth period. 

The main event of the day was the gathering of some of the Voodoo team veterans for a panel discussion. Missouri Aviation Historical Society President Dan O'Hara opened the session and then turned over the panel moderation to local pilot, aviation historian and publisher Gary Liming. Eight members of the panel answered questions about their involvement in the F-101 program from their manufacturing, flight testing or military service experience. Topics ranged from flying characteristics to combat tactics to the workings of various hardware aboard the jet. We present several video clips from the event, each addressing a different topic requested by the panel moderator or a member of the audience.   

Members of the Panel (L-R): Chuck Fulton, Dan Venverloh, Dick Moffitt,

Joe Dobronski, Gary Liming, Bob West, Bob Gould, George Andre, and William Spurgeon





Bob Gould and George Andre describe their initial flights in the Voodoo:

George Andre' talks about the role of the F-101B interceptor:

Dan Venverloh and Bob Gould discuss the RF-101C reconnaissance cameras:

Joe Dobronski gives the test pilot view of the pitch-up issues with the Voodoo:



Bob Gould, Joe Dobronski and George Andre' pay tribute to the legacy of the Voodoo:



The Aero Experience wishes to thank Missouri Aviation Historical Society President Dan O'Hara and other members for organizing this event.  Special thanks to those guests from the McDonnell Aircraft and military communities who participated in the panel discussion and added their experiences.  Also, thanks to those who attended the event and showed support for the mission of the Missouri Aviation Historical Society.  

McDonnell F-101 Voodoo 60th Anniversary Commemoration Attracts Generations of One-O-Wonder Fans

By Carmelo Turdo

The Missouri Aviation Historical Society hosted a 60th anniversary commemoration of the first flight of the McDonnell Aircraft F-101 Voodoo Saturday at the James J. Eagan Community Center in Florissant, Missouri.  The special event was held at the Florissant location to accommodate the larger expected audience and incorporate into the event activities the F-101F Voodoo (s/n 58-0269) on display in the adjacent Florissant Valley Park.  Florissant, a northern St. Louis County suburb known for being in close proximity to the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (later McDonnell Douglas and now Boeing) manufacturing complex located at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, experienced a population boom from 1947-1980 during the company's rapid growth period.  McDonnell Aircraft and McDonnell Douglas produced the Phantom, Banshee, Demon, Voodoo, Phantom II, Eagle, Hornet and Harrier II tactical jets along with Mercury and Gemini spacecraft and many other experimental types.  Mayor James J. Eagan, for whom the Community Center was named, presided over much of the city's growth as Mayor of Florissant from 1963 until his death in 2000.


James J. Eagan Community Center, Florissant, MO



McDonnell Aircraft F-101F Voodoo (s/n 58-0269)

 

 

  



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first activity of the event was a photo opportunity and award presentation that took place at the site of the F-101F Voodoo on display on a hill overlooking Florissant Valley Park.  At around noon, an iconic gathering of those who built, flew and maintained the F-101 Voodoo from the McDonnell Aircraft and U.S. Air Force communities assembled for a series of photos and conversation amongst old friends and new acquaintances around the jet, which was recently cleaned and trimmed for the occasion.  An award presentation was officiated by current Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider recognizing the work of  Dwight "Red" Singleton, a Boeing employee who volunteered over 50 hours of time working to restore the Voodoo to the current excellent condition following an unfortunate occurrence of vandalism in 2012.  Since then, the jets has enjoyed two years with its new paint, decals and lighted walkway that have made the exhibit more attractive and visible to Florissant Parks and Recreation staff at night.

The F-101F Voodoo located in Florissant Valley Park

New lighted walkway surrounds the aircraft

Dedication plaque was added as part of the restoration

McDonnell test pilots (L-R) Irv Burrows, Bob Little and Joe Dobronski

with Aerodynamicist Jack Abercrombie 

Gathering of McDonnell and USAF Voodoo team

MAHS President Dan O'Hara (right) addresses the team

Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider (second from right) addresses the team 

Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider (right) recognizes

Dwight "Red" Singleton for the restoration of the Voodoo

Following the outside activities, the main event took place in a large meeting room inside the James J. Eagan Community Center.  Once in side, there was time to visit with the Voodoo team, meet other visitors and have some snacks prior to 1pm.  F-101 Voodoo exhibits were provided by the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, MAHS military demonstration team presenter Joe Gurney, and others.  As the early arrivals viewed the displays and interacted with the Voodoo team veterans, the room filled to over 70 guests just prior to the main event.



McDonnell test pilots Bob Little and Irv Burrows lead the guests through the exhibits



Historic documents, photos and models were on display to tell the

story of the development and service of the F-101 Voodoo

The main event of the day was the gathering of some of the Voodoo team veterans for a panel discussion, along the same format inaugurated by the Missouri Aviation Historical Society for the Mercury spacecraft 50th anniversary of astronaut Gordon Cooper's flight in May, 2013.  (Since then, the Mercury panel has met several more times for other programs).  Missouri Aviation Historical Society President Dan O'Hara opened the session, and then turned over the panel moderation to local pilot, aviation historian and publisher Gary Liming.  Eight members of the panel answered questions about their involvement in the F-101 program from their manufacturing, flight testing or military service experience.  Topics ranged from flying characteristics to combat tactics to the workings of various hardware aboard the jet.  A few issues were addressed by others present at the event who had insight into the issue discussed.  Throughout the panel discussion, it became more evident with each question that this was an historic assembly of aerospace giants, who, regardless of their achievements, remained humble and available to anyone who wished to visit with them.  More details of the panel discussion will be featured in future posts by The Aero Experience.

 

Members of the Panel (L-R): Chuck Fulton, Dan Venverloh, Dick Moffitt,

Joe Dobronski, Gary Liming, Bob West, Bob Gould,

George Andre, and William Spurgeon

Following the panel discussion, a cake with the Voodoo logo was served along with other refreshments.  The first cut was made by Bob Little, the McDonnell test pilot who flew the first flight of the F-101, and the remainder of the cake was cut by Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum President, Mark Nankivil.

 

F-101 themed cake from McArthur's Bakery

McDonnell Test Pilot Bob Little cuts the cake

McDonnell Test Pilots (L-R): Irv Burrows, Bob Little, Joe Dobronski

McDonnell Test Pilot Bob Little signs autographs following the program

The Aero Experience wishes to thank Missouri Aviation Historical Society President Dan O'Hara and other members for organizing this event.  Special thanks to those guests from the McDonnell Aircraft and military communities who participated in the panel discussion and added their experiences.  Also, thanks to those who attended the event and showed support for the mission of the Missouri Aviation Historical Society.  Look for further coverage of the panel discussion in upcoming posts.