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                                                            Exhibit 23

                         Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  of our report dated  January 22,
1997 on the consolidated  financial statements and schedule of McDonnell Douglas
Corporation  and  subsidiaries  incorporated  by reference in the Annual  Report
(Form 10-K) of McDonnell Douglas Corporation and subsidiaries for the year ended
December 31, 1996 in the following filings:

        Registration  Statement File Number 333-10913 (filed August 27, 1996) on
       Form S-3, McDonnell Douglas Corporation Senior Debt Securities.

        Registration  Statement File Number 33-56129 (filed October 21, 1994) on
       Form S-8,  McDonnell  Douglas  Corporation  1994  Performance  and Equity
       Incentive Plan.

        Registration  Statement File Number  33-50063 (filed August 23, 1993) on
       Form S-8,  Employee  Savings  Plan of  McDonnell  Douglas  Corporation  -
       Salaried Plan.

        Post Effective Amendment Number 7 to Registration  Statement File Number
       2-76396  on  Form  S-8,   Employee  Savings  Plan  of  McDonnell  Douglas
       Corporation - Component Plan, filed April 4, 1988.

        Registration  Statement File Number  33-50059 (filed August 23, 1993) on
       Form  S-8,  Employee  Thrift  Plan of  McDonnell  Douglas  Corporation  -
       Subsidiary Plan.

        Post Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration  Statement File Number
       33-11144  on  Form  S-8,   Employee  Thrift  Plan  of  McDonnell  Douglas
       Corporation - Hourly Plan, filed April 29, 1988.

        Post Effective Amendment Number 2 to Registration  Statement File Number
       33-13342 on Form S-8 (which pursuant to Rule 429, also  constitutes  Post
       Effective  Amendment Number 10 to S-8 Registration  Statement File Number
       2-64039),   Incentive  Award  Plan,   Incentive   Compensation  Plan  and
       Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, filed April 28, 1989.

        Registration  Statement File Number  33-50057 (filed August 23, 1993) on
       Form S-8,  Employee  Investment Plan of McDonnell  Douglas  Corporation -
       Hourly West Plan.

        Registration  Statement File Number  33-50055 (filed August 23, 1993) on
       Form S-8,  Employee  Investment Plan of McDonnell  Douglas  Corporation -
       Hourly East Plan.

        Registration  Statement File Number  33-50061 (filed August 23, 1993) on
       Form S-8,  McDonnell Douglas  Helicopter  Company Savings Plan for Hourly
       Employees.

                                                         /s/Ernst & Young LLP   


St. Louis, Missouri                                      
March 14, 1997

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                                                       Exhibit 23
                                                                              

                         Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of McDonnell  Douglas  Corporation and  subsidiaries of our report dated January
22,  1997,  included  in the 1996 Annual  Report to  Shareholders  of  McDonnell
Douglas Corporation and subsidiaries.

                                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


St. Louis, Missouri                                       
March 14, 1997

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