Photograph of Moya O. Lear in the cockpit of a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft, George Air Force Base, California, February 1992.
Photographic slide of a Lear Fan 2100 aircraft and two McDonnell F-4 Phantoms in flight over mountainous terrain, circa 1980-1983.
Bruce Mennella served in the U.S. Navy with Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) during the Vietnam War. He later operated a car dealership in Burien, Washington.
Bruce Edward Mennella was born on September 16, 1946 in New York City to Vincent and Madeline Mennella. His father had been a pilot in World War II, flying transport airplanes from Sand Point Naval Air Station. After the war, Vincent obtained a college degree under the GI Bill. In mid-1947, he and his family moved to Seattle, Washington, where he worked for NCM, a cash register company. In the mid-1950s, Vincent opened a Ford dealership in Burien, Washington. He also remained an active pilot in the Navy Reserves.
Mennella attended school in Burien, Washington, graduating from Highline High school in 1964. He attended the University of Washington’s School of Business. He planned on joining his family’s car business after graduation; however, the onset of the Vietnam War altered his post-graduation plans. As a sophomore, he went to a Navy recruiter and worked out a deal to enter the military after graduation. He passed the aviation written exam in order to become a pilot, but due to his eyesight, he did not pass the medical exam. Instead, he went into Air Intelligence. Graduating in June 1968, he reported to Aviation Office Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. From there, he went to Air Intelligence School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. While in Denver, he re-connected with Louise A. Vacca, a woman he had dated occasionally in high school who was now a flight attendant with United Airlines. They were married in 1969.
Once he had completed his training, Mennella was assigned to NAS Miramar in San Diego, California, arriving there in November 1969. VF-114 flew McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft and was reformatting after a WESTPAC cruise. He spent the next 11 months training, including flying in the back seat of VF-114 airplanes whenever possible. The USS Kitty Hawk, associated with the squadron, was at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington for refurbishing at that time.
Mennella’s first cruise was from November 1970 to July 1971 on the USS Kitty Hawk. Operating in the middle of a bombing halt and in the southern area off the coast of Vietnam, the cruise did not see a great deal of activity. Mennella worked in the Integrated Operations Information Center (IOIC), briefing and debriefing pilots on their targets. Briefings included weather conditions, rules of engagement, tanking procedures, emergency procedures, and an overview of the area of operations. In his off time, he traveled in Sasebo, Japan; Hong Kong; and Subic Bay, Philippines, where his wife was able to visit him.
Mennella’s second cruise, also on the USS Kitty Hawk, began in February 1972. This time, the carrier operated off the north coast of Vietnam and included missions going into Hanoi. Each Alpha strike took 35 to 40 airplanes in a three-operations-per-day cycle. Briefings were longer and more complex due to the area of operations. About five months into the tour, Mennella’s wife had their first child. Since Mennella’s replacement was on board, Mennella was sent home. He left the Navy in October 1972. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his first cruise and earned the Navy Commendation Medal on his second cruise.
Back in Seattle, Mennella went to work for his father’s Ford dealership. He assumed the role of general manager in 1980 and five years later bought the business. He added Isuzu and Subaru franchises shortly after. His success brought him on to the Ford National Dealer Council, where he served for two years. After that, he was elected chairman of the Northwest Ford Dealers Advertising Group covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.
Mennella and his wife ultimately had three children and seven grandchildren. As of 2020, they were still living in the Seattle area.
Biographical information derived from interview and additional information provided by interviewee.
An off-white round sticker which reads: "MCDONNELL / PHANTOM II." There is a dark blue/black boarder just inside the edges of the sticker. At the center is a dark blue/black circle, on top of which is set a depiction of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber. The plane is in shades of black/blue, off-white, and red. The sticker is still mounted on its wax paper backing.
Astronaut Richard F. “Dick” Gordon is interviewed about his military service and spaceflight career. He describes his experiences as a naval aviator and test pilot during the 1950s, including his time testing the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II and his record-setting cross-country flight during Project LANA. He then discusses his career with NASA during the 1960s and early 1970s. Topics discussed include astronaut selection and training; his involvement with Gemini 8, Gemini 11, and Apollo 12; and his memories of fellow astronauts. The interview concludes with a brief overview of Gordon’s post-NASA career and his thoughts on the newly opened Apollo exhibit at The Museum of Flight.
Richard F. “Dick” Gordon was a naval aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut who participated in the Gemini and Apollo programs. He was born on October 5, 1929 in Seattle, Washington. During the Great Depression, his family relocated to Kingston, Washington. He graduated from North Kitsap High School (Poulsbo, Washington) in 1947 and afterwards attended the University of Washington. He graduated in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
During his college years, Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve and trained at Sand Point Naval Air Station (Washington). After graduation, he joined the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. He received his naval aviator designation in 1953 and subsequently served two tours of duty in the Mediterranean with Fighter Squadron 11 (VF-11), known as the Red Rippers. In 1957, Gordon reported to Naval Air Station Patuxent River (Maryland) to attend Test Pilot School. During his test pilot career, he flew the Vought F8U Crusader, Grumman F11F Tigercat, North American FJ Fury, Douglas A4D Skyhawk, and McDonnell F4H Phantom II. He also served as a F4H instructor with Fighter Squadron 121 (VF-121) and as flight safety officer, assistant operations officer, and ground training officer with Fighter Squadron 96 (VF-96). In 1961, he won the Bendix Trophy Race in a F4H and set a cross-country speed record of two hours and 47 minutes. Gordon’s other assignments during this time include a cruise with the Seventh Fleet aboard the USS Ranger (CV-61) and studies at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
In 1963, Gordon was selected by NASA as part of the third group of astronauts for the Astronaut Corps. He served as backup pilot for Gemini 8 and Apollo 9, as backup commander for Apollo 15, and as primary pilot for Gemini XI and Apollo 12. During Gemini XI (September 12-15, 1966), his mission objectives included two EVAs (extravehicular activities) and executing docking maneuvers with the Agena Target Vehicle. During Apollo 12 (November 14-24, 1969), he piloted the command and service module Yankee Clipper and mapped possible landing sites for future lunar missions. During his two spaceflights, he logged a total of 315 hours and 53 minutes in space.
Gordon retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy in 1972. His post-military careers included serving as Executive Vice President of the New Orleans Saints Professional Football Club; as General Manager of Energy Developers, Limited (EDL); as an executive for Resolution Engineering and Development Company (REDCO) and AMARCO Resources; as Director of the Los Angeles Division of Scott Science and Technology, Inc.; and as President of Astro Sciences Corporation. He also was involved in several charities and community organizations, including the March of Dimes, the Louisiana Heart Fund, and the Boy Scouts of America. Gordon passed away on September 6, 2017.
Gordon and his first wife, Barbara Field, had six children together. He also had two stepchildren from his marriage to his second wife, Linda Saunders.
Biographical information derived from interview, from additional information provided by interviewee, and from online sources.
Item from a disassembled scrapbook documenting the U.S. Navy career of Elvin L. Lindsay, circa 1944-1947.
]]>Photographic group portrait of U.S. Navy servicemen with a Grumman F6F Hellcat aircraft (fuselage number 35) and a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II aircraft (tail number 3842, tail code NL), circa 1978.
Item from a disassembled scrapbook documenting the U.S. Navy career of Elvin L. Lindsay, circa 1944-1947.
Photograph of four McDonnell F-4 Phantom II aircraft in flight, circa 1969-1972. The planes bear the squadron markings for Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) of the United States Navy.
Photograph of four McDonnell F-4 Phantom II aircraft flying in formation above the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), circa 1969-1972.
Photograph of Bruce Mennella on the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), circa 1969-1972. A McDonnell F-4 Phantom II aircraft (tail number 7246) of Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) is parked behind him.
Photograph of military aircraft on the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), circa 1969-1972. Identified airplanes include the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, the Grumman A-6 Intruder, and the North American A3J-3P (RA-5C) Vigilante.