Donald Hall, 86; Weapons Specialist Advanced M-16 Rifle

Donald Lewis Hall, 86, a pioneer in weapons systems analysis whose work helped develop the M-16 rifle, died Jan. 20 in Tustin of unspecified causes.

Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Hall earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Rice University, where he was a celebrated solo cornetist in the college band.

During World War II, he designed mechanisms and directors for antiaircraft weapons.

By the 1950s, Hall was chief of the special weapons evaluation branch of the Ballistic Research Laboratories in Aberdeen, Md.

After two years of research, in 1952 Hall published “An Effectiveness Study of the Infantry Rifle.” The study championed the use of a smaller-caliber weapon to inflict the largest number of casualties.

His research and work led to the design of the M-16.

Moving to Southern California, Hall continued his career working for Northrop Corp. as a systems analyst for various military weapons.

He held three patents, and was credited by Redstone Arsenal’s Brig. Gen. J.G. Shinkle for “significant contributions in the areas of target analysis and overall systems effectiveness.”

Throughout his life, Hall was active in the First Church of Christ Scientist. He helped supervise the building of the Christian Science Church in Tustin.