McDonnell Aircraft

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The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer, based near St. Louis, Missouri. It was founded in 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and merged, with the Douglas Aircraft Company, into McDonnell Douglas in 1967. In 1946, Dave Lewis joined the company as Chief of Aerodynamics, led the development of the legendary F-4 Phantom II in 1954, Executive Vice President in 1958, and finally President and Chief Operating Officer in 1962. In 1967, Lewis managed the turnaround of the near bankrupt Douglas Aircraft Division in the McDonnell Douglas merger. The assets of McDonnell Douglas were purchased and now owned by Boeing which adopted the rocket and ball logo.

The advent of World War II was a major boost to the new company, from fifteen employees in 1939 the firm ended the war with over 5,000, a significant producer of aircraft parts.

Products

• XP-67 Bat
• FH Phantom

McDonnell FH-1 Phantom fighter