Larry Bell's Legacy

The book Larry Bell's Legacy: Aerospace Pioneering was written by Hugh Neeson and the staff of the Niagara Aerospace Museum. It was released on October 15, 2022 to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of Bell Aircraft's X-1 breaking the sound barrier on October 14, 1947.

Hugh Neeson began his 44-year career at Bell Aircraft/Aerospace as an engineer in 1955, advancing through various positions, culminating as Vice President and General Manager. He graduated with a BS in Physics from Canisius College and an MBA from the University of Buffalo. As Vice President General Manager of the Niagara Frontier operations of Textron Defense Systems before his retirement in 1999 he convinced Textron to sell the remaining Bell operations adjacent to the Niagara Falls Airport to Lockheed Martin, a business entity still in operation in the former Bell Manufacturing faciities. A leader in preserving Western New York Aviation History, he was President of the Aero Club of Buffalo and the Lawrence D. Bell Air Force Association, in addition to participating with numerous educational and community organizations. After serving on the Niagara Frontier Hall of Fame Committee for many years, he was instrumental in the creation of the Niagara Aerospace Museum, still serving as a Trustee, member of the Executive Committee and Development Director. For decades, Hugh has given presentations on the history of the WNY aviation industry and Bell Aircraft/Aerospace at schools and historical societies. He plans to write two additional books and to continue promoting the importance of WNY in the history of aviation.

A Summary of Larry Bell’s Legacy

Larry Bell’s Legacy: Aerospace Pioneering expands upon the previously released book Bell Aircraft/Aerospace Overview and includes information about delivering 7,000 Bell P39 Cobras and P63 King Cobras to Russia during WWII, the creation of Bell Helicopter, development of the X-1 and X-2, the X-22 Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft, Agena Rocket Engine, Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV), Apollo Lunar Excursion Module, Strategic Missile Program, Gravity Gradiometry, Hovercraft – Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), and other products.

The book also includes information about orbital reconnaissance and the involvement of Kodak Corporation that was recently declassified by the U.S. Government

Larry Bell’s Legacy was written and complied by Hugh Neeson, a 44-year employee of Bell Aircraft/Aerospace, who retired as the last VP and General Manager of the Bell Niagara Falls complex. It includes submissions by members of the Niagara Aerospace Museum and former Bell Aircraft/Aerospace employees, including assistance and contributions by Roy Lindberg, Ray Meisner, Don Irwin and Judy Kirkwood of the Niagara Aerospace Museum, Dr. Ilya Grinberg – author of Red Phoenix Rising: The Soviet Air Force in WWII, John Kelly – the Bell New Orleans story, Walter Lechowski – Secret of the X-1’s Success, Daniel DiFrancesco – Sword to Plow Shares, and Walter Gordon and his staff at Kodak – reclassification of orbital reconnaissance.

Larry Bell’s Legacy: Aerospace Pioneering is available on Amazon.com and the at the Niagara Aerospace Museum. It will soon be available at WNY area bookstores, historical societies and gift shops, distributed through Buffalo History Books by Rick Falkowski.