Schwan, USN, Retired, CDR Harold C., passed away, Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Beloved husband of the late Patricia B. Schwan (nee Derderian); dear father of Kurt (Suzanne) Schwan, Erica Schwan and Erik Schwan; loving grandfather of Jenna (Grant) Meyer, Chris (Theresa) Schwan, Andrew (Bailey) Schwan, Kate Schwan and Christopher Wheat; honorary grandfather of Isabella Christian; great-grandfather of Natalie, Roman, Conrad, Adelaide, Gemma, Sam, Abe, Teddy and Archer.

Hal was born and grew up in West Allis Wisconsin the son of William and Frances Schwan with older brother Robert. Hal was always interested in airplanes and making things. He thought he would grow up to be a machinist which his brother did become. Being unusually bright Hal was advanced a grade and graduated high school at 17. As he was about to graduate the Army and Navy had recruiters that were looking for men, Hal happened to take the Navy form and was selected for the V12 program to go to college, Hal started at the University of Wisconsin in 1942. After a year there Hal transferred to the University of Notre Dame to pursue a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Hal graduated in 1946 and was commissioned as an officer. Hal was later released in the post war draw-down. Hal then worked at North American Aviation in LA for a few years where he learned to fly. He then saw that the Navy wanted pilot trainees and applied and was accepted for a slot to be a Navy pilot and entered training at NAS Pensacola.

Hal was a combat pilot during the Korean Conflict prior to his retirement from the United States Navy in 1969 after proudly serving 24 years. He had two tours of Korea with VF-51, the 1951-1952 cruise on the USS ESSEX and the 1952-1953 cruise on the USS Valley Forge while flying F9F Panthers. He then went on to VF-64 flying the F3H Demon. It was at NAS Alameda the Hal met and fell in love with and married Pat. Hal then took an exchange assignment in the Air Force flying F-89 Scorpions and F-101 Voodoos with the 94th FIS out of Hamilton AFB. Hal then went to the US Naval War College where he earned his first master's degree. His next assignment was as a test pilot for F-4 Phantoms at McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis. Hal and the family were then transferred to Naval Air Station Key West where Hal was training in F-4s in VF-101 Replacement Air Group squadron. Hal's last assignment in the Navy was at NAVAIR in the D.C. area. Hal retired from the Navy in 1969.

In 1970, Hal went on to work for McDonnell Douglas for 17 years. At McDonnell Hal led a design group adding leading edge slats to the F-4E. He was also on the original F/A-18 proposal helping to win that critical contact. Hal then became the expert in Carrier Suitability design which he later passed on to other teammates. In his later years Hal was a Technical Integrator for F/A-18 foreign sales where he travelled to Japan, Korea, Greece, Switzerland and France. While working Hal earned his masters in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri, Rolla. Hal retired from McDonnel Douglas in 1987.

Hal had a wonderful retirement enjoying 37 years with his family. His hobbies included bicycling, gardening, swimming, travel, reading, reunions with his VF-51 Squadron and free flight modeling with the Thermaleers Club.

My dad, Hal, was the nicest, smartest, most interesting man I've ever met. The world is diminished with his loss. Love you Dad.

Instructing in the F6F out of NAS Kingsville

Harold Schwan with New Wife, Patricia Derderian, and best man. 

VF-51 F9F Panther on a mission in Korea, photo by Harold Schwan 

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

1946 Graduation & Commissioning from the Navy V-12 Program at the University of Notre Dame.

Hal was born and grew up in West Allis Wisconsin the son of William and Frances Schwan with older brother Robert. Hal was always interested in airplanes and making things. He thought he would grow up to be a machinist which his brother did become. Being unusually bright Hal was advanced a grade and graduated high school at 17. As he was about to graduate the Army and Navy had recruiters that were looking for men, Hal happened to take the Navy form and was selected for the V12 program to go to college, Hal started at the University of Wisconsin in 1942. After a year there Hal transferred to the University of Notre Dame to pursue a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Hal graduated in 1946 and was commissioned as an officer. Hal was later released in the post war draw-down. Hal then worked at North American Aviation in LA for a few years where he learned to fly. He then saw that the Navy wanted pilot trainees and applied and was accepted for a slot to be a Navy pilot and entered training at NAS Pensacola.

Hal was a combat pilot during the Korean Conflict prior to his retirement from the United States Navy in 1969 after proudly serving 24 years. He had two tours of Korea with VF-51, the 1951-1952 cruise on the USS ESSEX and the 1952-1953 cruise on the USS Valley Forge while flying F9F Panthers. He then went on to VF-64 flying the F3H Demon. It was at NAS Alameda the Hal met and fell in love with and married Pat. Hal then took an exchange assignment in the Air Force flying F-89 Scorpions and F-101 Voodoos with the 94th FIS out of Hamilton AFB. Hal then went to the US Naval War College where he earned his first master's degree. His next assignment was as a test pilot for F-4 Phantoms at McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis. Hal and the family were then transferred to Naval Air Station Key West where Hal was training in F-4s in VF-101 Replacement Air Group squadron. Hal's last assignment in the Navy was at NAVAIR in the D.C. area. Hal retired from the Navy in 1969.

In 1970, Hal went on to work for McDonnell Douglas for 17 years. At McDonnell Hal led a design group adding leading edge slats to the F-4E. He was also on the original F/A-18 proposal helping to win that critical contact. Hal then became the expert in Carrier Suitability design which he later passed on to other teammates. In his later years Hal was a Technical Integrator for F/A-18 foreign sales where he travelled to Japan, Korea, Greece, Switzerland and France. While working Hal earned his masters in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri, Rolla. Hal retired from McDonnel Douglas in 1987.

Hal had a wonderful retirement enjoying 37 years with his family. His hobbies included bicycling, gardening, swimming, travel, reading, reunions with his VF-51 Squadron and free flight modeling with the Thermaleers Club. 

Schwan, USN, Retired, CDR Harold  C., passed away, Tuesday, April 2, 2024.  Beloved husband of the late Patricia B. Schwan (nee Derderian); dear father of Kurt (Suzanne) Schwan, Erica Schwan and Erik Schwan; loving grandfather of Jenna (Grant) Meyer, Chris (Theresa) Schwan, Andrew (Bailey) Schwan, Kate Schwan and Christopher Wheat; honorary grandfather of Isabella Christian; great-grandfather of Natalie, Roman, Conrad, Adelaide, Gemma, Sam, Abe, Teddy and Archer.

Hal was born and grew up in West Allis Wisconsin the son of William and Frances Schwan with older brother Robert.   Hal was always interested in airplanes and making things.   He thought he would grow up to be a machinist which his brother did become.   Being unusually bright Hal was advanced a grade and graduated high school at 17. As he was about to graduate the Army and Navy had recruiters that were looking for men,  Hal happened to take a the Navy form and was selected for the V12 program to go to college,   Hal started at the University of Wisconsin in 1942.  After a year there Hal transferred to the University of Notre Dame to pursue a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.  Hal graduated in 1946 and was commissioned as an officer.   Hal was later released in the post war draw-down.  Hal then Worked at Noth American Aviation in LA for a few years where he learned to fly.  He then saw that the Navy wanted pilot trainees and applied and was accepted for a slot to be a Navy pilot and entered training at NAS Pensacola.

Hal was a combat pilot during the Korean Conflict prior to his retirement from the United States Navy in 1969 after proudly serving 24 years.  He had two tours of Korea with VF-51, the 1951-1952 cruise on the USS ESSEX and the 1952-1953 cruise on the USS Valley Forge while flying F9F Panthers.  He then went on to VF-64 flying the F3H Demon.  It was at NAS Alameda the Hal met and fell in love with and married Pat. Hal then took an exchange assignment in the Air Force flying F-89 Scorpions and F-101 Voodoos with the 94th FIS out of Hamilton AFB.  Hal then went to the US Naval War College where he earned his first master's degree. His next assignment was as a test pilot for F-4 Phantoms at McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis. Hal and the family were then transferred to Naval Air Station Key West where Hal was training in F-4s in VF-101 Replacement Air Group squadron.  Hal's last assignment in the Navy was at NAVAIR in the D.C. area. Hal retired from the Navy in 1969.

In 1970, Hal went on to work for McDonnell Douglas for 17 years.   At McDonnell Hal led a design group adding leading edge slats to the F-4E.  He was also on the original F/A-18 proposal helping to win that critical contact.   Hal then became the expert in Carrier Suitatability design which he later passed on to other teammates.   In his later years Hal was a Technical Integrator for F/A-18 foreign sales where he travelled to Japan, Korea, Greece, Switzerland and France. While working Hal earned his masters in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri, Rolla.  Hal retired from McDonnel Douglas in 1987.

Hal had a wonderful retirement enjoying 37 years with his family.  His hobbies included bicycling, gardening, swimming, travel, reading, reunions with his VF-51 Squadron and free flight modeling with the Thermaleers Club. 

My dad, Hal, was the nicest, smartest, most interesting man I've ever met.   The world is diminished with his loss. Love you Dad.

Services:  Roadside service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans or Boys Town. As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.

HAROLD CHARLES SCHWAN

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