BOOM BOOM MCDOWELL 1958 - 1980 PILOT AMA MKC MCI I retired in 1980 as a captain based in MKC with a physical retirement. I still get passes on Cont Airlines and they let me be on their retired list. -Fred McDonald (2/26/05) As some of you know .... Fred has come down with stomach cancer. Ron Gallop talked with him by phone yesterday. He is home from the hospital and resting. Fred has requested that we NOT call him or come to see him .... he just wants to rest. I know what he means .... I just spent the week end in a hospital room with Carol's dad who had open heart surgery last week. With the nurses waking him up every 3 hours during the night for whatever reason they do that and with visitors and phone calls all day, the man was worn out and no rest in sight .... made me decide that IF I ever end up in the hospital - I don't want a phone and I don't want anybody to know where I am ..... We will keep you advised as to Fred's condition when we find out more and when he is up to phone calls and visitors. -Phil Stallings 8/30/05) Fred L. McDowell Jr. "Boom Boom", 78, of Kansas City North passed away of cancer on Monday, October 17th. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to either Civil Air Patrol #23129 or Northgate Baptist Church, on Vivian Road. -Phil Stallings (10/17/05) Boom Boom cheered you up like John Stark did! I'm glad I got to see him last year at the MCI Reunion. -Jake Lamkins (10/17/05) Boom Boom was one of those great guys who always left you feeling better than before he arrived. I knew him over 20 years at Frontier Airlines and he was unfailingly friendly and cheerful. A great loss! -Jake Lamkins (10/19/05) I was sorry to read of the passing of Captain Fred this afternoon. I flew with him a few times in 1978-79 while I was in Kansas City. Saw him two years ago at the MCI reunion and found he had not lost his sense of humor. Ann (Freese) and I will miss him. -Jack Bozarth (10/19/05) Boom Boom was always a delight to fly with. He truly made flying fun, not work, and I always looked forward to a trip with him. His sense of humor and overall demeanor made flying a real pleasure. Blue Skies and Tailwinds Always, My Friend - Beetle -Jack "Beetle" Bailey (10/19/05) Just want to express my deepest Sympathy to BoomBooms Family. I will always remember BoomBoom as one of the sweetest kindest men I have ever known. I had many wonderful flights with BoomBoom. He always made me smile just to see him and hear that wonderful laugh. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him. -Sonje Rogers(Fredericksen) (10/21/05) Fred was a pleasure to fly and work with in CAP, and I remember him coming to the grade school class that Cheryl and I were in to talk about flying. The world has lost one of the really great guys. -Randy Reynard (10/21/05) My husband and I both worked MKC/MCI and had the pleasure of knowing Boom Boom for many years. He always had a smile and a cheerful word. His generosity helped keep the Kansas City Frontier Reunion alive. He was a real gentleman, and will be missed. Mike and Rose Dragen -Rose Dragen (10/21/05) BoomBoom always lit up the room with his generous smile. He was such a jolly fellow with his warmth and caring personality. We will miss you BoomBoom. On your flight West may you find smooth air, warm-soft tailwinds, and a bright star to steer by! -Billy & Cheryl Walker (10/24/05) Shocked to hear about Fred. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. We will always remember all the good times we had going to the K.C. Chiefs football games and of course we thought you were wonderful neighbors. He will always be remembered and missed. All our love, Ann & Gene -Gene & Ann McCaleb (10/26/05) Email to Phil Stallings TERRIFIC!!! Thanks a lot for the photo I talked to Homer Dahl a few days ago. He didn't know who Fred McDowell was. But he sure knew BoomBoom when I used that name. -Jake Lamkins (10/26/05) *laughing* .... Jake, I'll bet there were a lot of guys who didn't know Fred McDowell, but knew very well who "Boom-Boom" was ..... *grinning* That pic of Fred is "courtesy of Ron Gallop", it came from a file that he sent me some time ago. -Phil Stallings (10/26/05) Posted at FL Club: Does anyone know how BoomBoom got his nickname? -Jake Lamkins (10/27/05) I'll pass along what Ron Gallop told me as related to him by Dick Bombard at the funeral. After hearing it again, I now vaguely remember the same story from waaaaaaaaaaay back when. Taxiing a DC-3 is a real challange for a new pilot in the thing, especially if he doesn't have much recent taildragger time. To make a turn to the left for example, first you unlock the tailwheel with your throttle hand and then to start the turn you advance the throttle for the right engine the right amount (?) and then close it as the turn begins. Before you get to the point where you want to stop the turn, you advance the left throttle the right amount(?) and relock the tailwheel. (Kinda like rubbing your head and your belly at the same time!) The secret is to stay off the brakes and make things as smooth as possible for the folks in back. You can also just unlock the tailwheel and use the individual brakes to start and stop the turn but this makes for fading hot brakes and a rough ride. Strong surface winds and a heavy rear cargo bin load only complicate the problem more. Needless to say, the learning curve can be rather steep! Fred was a new hire with no recent taildragger time and he was trying to learn how to taxi the beast. Of course it was on a revenue trip as virtually all our training was back then and he was nervously opening the throttles too quickly and the engine would backfire.........BOOM. Then when he tried to stop the turn with the other engine..............BOOM again. So his taxiing that day with that airplane was a series of BOOM-BOOMs and the nickname stuck. That's how I remember it. -Frosty Frost (10/29/05) There should not be words of condolence for those who have Flown West. They are the ones who have the Eternal Tailwind, Blue Skies, and Smooth Landings. The memories they leave with us are comfort to us in their absence and we miss them as we continue through this mortal sky. To have known and flown with "Boom Boom" McDowell was a pleasure and an opportunity for ample flying. Sharing many hours of hop scotching throughout the Great Frontier Land, in the venerable 580, Fred was always the consumate gentleman and professional. Those "Good Old Days" will surely be missed. For those of us whom he has left behind, we look forward to the Great Reunion of Aviators Gone West. Then, before a glorious sunset we will once again revisit those days of special camaraderie know only to those members of the Brotherhood of the Air. -Jack "Beetle" Bailey (10/14/06) FRED L MCDOWELL JR AMA first officer/reserve captain seniority date of 8/7/58, #69, per the Jan 1963 Central pilots seniority list. He is a MCI CV580 captain on the Mar 1979 pilot domicile list. I cannot find him on the Oct 1981 domicile list. His note from 2005 says he retired in 1980 on medical. -Jake Lamkins (7/16/17) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Boom Boom McDowell AMA MKC MCI pilot Boom Boom McDowell's memorial webpage has been upgraded at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/BoomBoom_McDowell.html Moved to a non-ad website and several items added. Still need a younger photo of him from the Frontier days. -Jake Lamkins (7/18/17) I flew for 21 years (1965-1986), half of those early years based in Kansas City. "Boom Boom" was an all-time favorite Captain, a true gentleman, and most importantly an excellent pilot. I feel privileged to have known "Boom Boom." -Sue Judd Evans (6/15/20) FLacebook Harry Dixon When I worked in MHK in 1968-69, there was a pilot that flew in/out MHK pretty regularly. Believe he was Central before Frontier. I recall he flew the Darts only. He was known as Boom-Boom. Think his last name was Mancini. Jake Lamkins Boob Boom McDowell! Remember him well. Great guy! http://FAL-1.tripod.com/BoomBoom_McDowell.html Gary Wise His name was Fred McDowell.....he was also a CV580 pilot based in Kansas City...great guy. Mike White Boom Boom was a great pilot and person. He lit up the place every time he came into ops room at LNK. Harry Dixon That’s him. Enjoyed seeing him come through MHK. He was quite the pilot, especially in bad weather. (1/6/21)