1946
Thank you for visiting Sedona Legend-
The Jack and Helen Frye Story!
Copyright © 2003
Sedona Legend Helen Frye Website
Created By R. D. Reynolds
All Rights Reserved
Sedona's Celebrity Love Story!
This is the official not to mention only web portal in the world
dedicated exclusively to the legacy of Jack and Helen Frye!
The Frye Legacy-
a Lifetime of Accomplishment!
By Randall Reynolds
The Sedona Legend Web Site is a historical narrative enhanced with photos presented for
educational and entertainment purposes. Some materials may be displayed in regard to the
United States Fair Use Act. This web portal is totally non-profit and generates no income, nor
does it seek or has it ever accepted a single donation. It is an independent venture.
While this web site is not "officially" affiliated with Red Rock State Park in any way, it was
envisioned and created to give park visitors a more indepth historical perspective in regard to
the former 700 acre Frye Ranch property.
Sedona Legend is encouraged and supported by the Jack Frye Family, to include Jack's
daughter, Nevajac Frye, Jack's late sister, "Sunny" Frye Thomas, the Helen Frye family,
and the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye.
JACK FRYE-
MEDAL FOR MERIT
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
By order of the
President of the United States-
Harry S. Truman
TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING:
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDER ISSUED BY GENERAL
GEORGE WASHINGTON AT HEADQUARTERS, NEWBURGH,
NEW YORK, ON AUGUST 7, 1782, AND PURSUANT TO ACT
OF CONGRESS, HAS AWARDED THE MEDAL
The Highest Ranking Civilian Award
Bestowed During World War II
FOR MERIT
TO
JACK FRYE
"The Medal of Merit, also known as the Medal for Merit, was established in 1942 by Franklin D.
Roosevelt. It was initiated to honor civilian citizens of the United States and their allies for
exceptional service during World War II."
FOR EXTRAORDINARY FIDELITY AND EXCEPTIONALLY
MERITORIOUS CONDUCT
Word for Word- the text from the December 18, 1946, Medal for Merit Certificate, issued to
Jack Frye at the White House on the date of December 21, 1946 is reproduced as shown below-
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
THIS EIGHTEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER 1946
James F. Byrnes                                                 Harry Truman
SECRETARY OF STATE                                                                       COMMANDER IN CHIEF
Jack and Helen Frye were invited to the White House for the Medal for Merit ceremony
Saturday, December 21, 1946. The photo above courtesy of Helen Frye's family shows the
presentation ceremony at the White House. A similar image ran in newspapers as well.
The
White
House
1946
A note attached to the photo written by Jack's wife Helen Frye is transcribed as follows:
"When Jack Frye was given the highest civilian decoration at the White House during the war,
I, as his wife, was given the ribbon metal with the Eagle, against the circle of the stars- (for
merit). The gold wings were Jack's insignia." Helen Varner Frye
The writing on the photo as written by Helen Frye is transcribed as follows: "Jack receiving
Merit of Honor, Dec 1941 -Aug 1945, highest civilian award for outstanding service to United
Nations." Helen Varner Frye
The following quote is from Jack Frye's only sister, Ople (Sunny) Frye Thomas:
"The medal was bestowed by the President of the United States for performing air transport
service of vital importance during World War II."
The original citation which was presented to
Jack Frye has been lost by Jack's family.
However the basic wording is displayed below,
as on file at the Truman Library and the
National Archives. The version below ran in the
TWA Employee in-house publication, TWA
Starliner, Dec. 1946. The image aside also ran
in the Starliner, interestingly it is a uncropped
version of the image shown above.
CITATION TO ACCOMPANY
THE AWARD OF THE MEDAL
FOR MERIT
Little known information follows as related by Jack’s Frye’s family. Jack Frye was the only
civilian readily admitted to the White House and the president’s office night or day without
question or restraint during the 1940's and 1950's. This unfettered access was unheard of
especially in regard to security during the war but yet I have heard it recounted by several
sources connected to Frye. This condition was likely a result of Frye’s relationship with both
presidents; Roosevelt and Truman and his position with the Democratic Party. TWA during
World War II was a vital asset of the United States and they worked closely with the military
stateside and overseas. No other leader of TWA ever achieved this status or relationship with
the highest levels of the United States Government. Frye was a true patriot and his lineage
went back to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson as found on page 1904. He was also in
the forties one of the most powerful and influential men of the Democratic Party. It was Frye
who was one of the men who ensured Truman won the White House in 1945. For more
information on the Fryes and the White House, please see page 1943.

Again on October 1, 1947 Jack Frye was invited to the White House (Rose Garden) with
Truman who presented another Medal for Merit to Col. Louis Johnson, United States Secretary
of War, Commander of the American Legion, and executive with G.A.F., (Frye was C.E.O. of
General Aniline and Film).
From 1941 on Jack was working 24/7 with his contemporaries toward the war effort. This
included committing all available TWA resources to serve our troops and personally setting up
instruction centers to train U.S. service men to fly the larger support planes of the day. Many of
the planes were air line flying stock previously unfamiliar to military pilots. One of the most
famous facilities was the Eagle Nest Flight Center, (more commonly known as the Jack Frye
Training School) at Albuquerque, N.M. Jack Frye appointed TWA chief pilot Otis Bryan (former
Army pilot) to head the Albuquerque school which became associated with many others around
the nation. These training efforts greatly aided our military advancements in the Pacific and
European theatres, Jack’s military position during the war was Lt. Commander A-V (S) USNR.

In an unprecedented act of gratitude, Jack Frye was awarded the "Order of Grand Officer of
the Crown of Italy" by the Italian Government for Frye's invaluable aid and support toward
rebuilding Italy's national aviation services after World War II. Quite an honor for Frye.

One person privy to Frye’s involvement in the war effort was Washington D.C. insider
Baroness Garnett Stackelberg. The Baroness was a Washington correspondent, not unlike our
current icon Barbara Walters. Garnett’s husband, Baron Steno Stackelberg worked for TWA
and was a close friend of Frye, he also worked for the State Department. The Baroness related
that Jack Frye had flown out endangered people from behind enemy lines, and that the
communist were killing off all the free-thinking wealthy families. They didn’t want free
thought, she stated, continuing that one of these was her husband, she added that the
Stackelberg family would forever be grateful to Jack Frye and his efforts. Garnett also said that
Jack knew her husband long before she came on the scene and that in regard to these war
efforts there was a plane (involved) named after Frye (perhaps the Frye Interceptor I have
heard references to). She closed by stating all the information was in storage or with her son. I
have never been able to make sense of any of this and because it was the very end of her life I
wonder if she was confused on some of the details. Garnett died before I could follow up with
her or meet her, and her son Sandy, was not privy to any of these classified operations.  

Frye’s activities in the World War II were top secret and Frye worked directly with the
president’s office so uncovering the details of the operations he was involved with is difficult at
best. The only parties I am aware of (all dead now) who were privy to Frye's involvements were
President(s) Roosevelt and Truman, Helen Frye, Steno and Garnett Stackelberg. I think we can
now better understand why Jack Frye was given the Medal for Merit, even if the classified
details have never been fully disclosed to the public at large. Please see Page 1940 and Page
1936 for more information.
Lockheed Constellation
TWA- PARIS SKY CHIEF
TWA- STAR of PARIS
TWA
Constellation-
Paris Sky Chief
December 3, 1945
Shown to left Mme. Henri Bonnet
(wife of the French Ambassador)
assisted by Jack Frye
(president and director of TWA).
TWA Christening Ceremony
Inauguration of the TWA-
"Paris Sky Chief"
The
Glory
Days
of
TWA
TWA Days of Camelot
"TWA 'Preview' Flight" Washington National (DCA)- Gander (YQX)- Shannon (SNN)- Orly
Field (ORY) 14 hours 48 minutes, Atlantic Speed Record for non-military aircraft. Broke:
(5) International Speed Records. Cargo- precious newly developed Penicillin to save the life of
dying Frenchman, Captain Henri Launey of Paris, who soon recovered after receiving the
miracle drug.
Trans World Airline is Born! Facing seemingly insurmountable
opposition from Howard Hughes and the TWA Board of Directors,
Jack Frye alters TWA forever and ensures its future for the next 50
years! His dream of making TWA a Trans "World" Airline is realized
Frye TWA Record Flight- February 3, 1946
Fortune
&
Glory
Shown left to right, Capt. Paul Frederickson, Paul Henry, Capt Lee Flanagin,
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Frye, and Joseph E. Casey. On stairs, left to right, TWA
flight hostesses, Rita P. Crooks and Dorraine Strole.
Dreams and Legends....     Fortune and Glory!
Helen Frye compliments the TWA flight crew as she kisses her
husband Jack Frye after he set a new transcontinental speed record
as captain of TWA Constellation #503! February 3, 1946
Burbank - LaGuardia
TWA captain in left seat, Jack Frye, TWA co-pilot in right seat, Lee Flanagin
Two Records: Transcontinental Speed Record- 7 hours, 27 minutes and 48 secs.
(previous record set by TWA Stratoliner- July 8 - 9, 1940)
Record: "Largest number of passengers carried on a single flight"
@ 45 passengers, 7 crew members
Cruise height of 15,000 feet
Speed- average 329 mph, top cruise speed for a time was 375 mph
Fuel consumption- 450 gallons per hour
Many of the
images and
details in this
section are
thanks to the
in-house
publication
TWA Skyliner
Magazine
LaGuardia Airport New York, left to
right, Flight Engineer Paul Henry,
President-Pilot Jack Frye, Asst.
Flight Engineer Eddie Greene, Second
row, Flight Captain Paul
Frederickson, Co-Captain, Lee
Flanagin. Top- Hostesses Rita P.
Crooks and Dorraine Strole.
Pilot Jack Frye checks pre-flight
weather at Burbank, CA., shown
with United Press associates,
Betty Harvey and Gene Gillette.
TWA Star of Paris- February 5, 1946
The Star of the Day is the Star of Paris. This monumental event
changed the course of TWA- United States air service and the world!  
Mrs. Frye can be spotted on the podium right behind the flags with the other dignitaries.
In image to the right (shown left to right) Otis Bryan (TWA vice president), Charles R.
Haffendon (N.Y.C. Marine and Aviation Commissioner), Leo McCauley (Irish Consul in N.Y.),
Guerin de Beaumont (French Consul General in N.Y.), Helen Frye. The models represent three
nations bridged by the new air service dressed in authentic world costumes.
With a flourish Mrs. Jack Frye
welcomes all to the future of TWA!
Mrs. Jack Frye
christens the
plane with a
"cloud gun".
Please see a
high resolution
photo of this
plane above on
the TWA CDG
website.
An interesting story regarding the beautiful leopard skin coat that Helen Frye is wearing for
this TWA event. It's a well-known fact that Jack Frye loved to play poker with his friends, it
helped him relax from the pressures of running TWA, and let me tell you, he was good at it too!
Of course his most famous poker buddy was Harry Truman who once told Jack’s sister,
"I liked Jack, because he'd let me win at poker." (This was at the dedication of the Jack Frye
Training Center at Kansas City in 1962). In the mid-1940’s Jack and Helen were staying in
New York City at a big hotel when Jack, as usual, was playing a spirited game of poker with his
pals. One of these men lost quite a bit of money to Jack and was unable for whatever reason to
pay up. He told Jack he had just bought a brand new leopard skin fur coat for his (girlfriend or
wife) and asked Jack if he would accept this as payment? Jack Frye was a fair man and said
"sure". So later that evening, when Jack returned to his suite, he tossed the large gift box on
the bed and told Helen, “here’s a present for you!” I am not one to condone wearing furs and no
doubt Helen, by the latter part of her life likely felt the same way, but in the 1930’s and 40’s
furs were all the rage and almost a requirement. Helen owned at least 3 full length mink coats,
one huge mink muff, and a sable jacket. These are just furs I'm aware of. Helen even gave
several fur coats away throughout the years. Diamonds and furs 'are' a girl's best friend, or so I
am told, and Helen Vanderbilt Frye deserved nothing less regarding the high society life she led.
Helen Frye
represented
TWA with style
and class. She
was always a hit
at every event.
The nation’s highest civilian award for wartime service, the Medal for Merit, was presented to
Jack Frye, President of TWA, by Secretary of War Robert Patterson at a ceremony, Saturday,
December 21, in Washington D.C.

The award, made by President Truman, was accompanied by a citation in which Frye was
commended for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to
the United States from December, 1941, to August, 1945.”

The citation, was read by Patterson in the presence of top-ranking military men, Mrs. Jack
Frye, W. Stuart Symington, Assistant Secretary of War for Air, and TWA officials, stated in
part:

“As President of Trans World Airline, you made a noteworthy contribution to the success of air
operations against the enemy as a result of your broad experience in the operation of
commercial air transports, and the force and vigor with which you addressed yourself to the
critical conflict into which your country was projected.

“Even before the outbreak of hostilities, you established schools for the training of pilots and
maintenance crews to insure successful ferrying of material and personnel to the combat
theaters. After the war begun you inaugurated air routes across the North and South Atlantic,
and from Northern Europe to bases in Africa. Thus the network of air communications you
established made the speedy shipment of mail, cargo and personnel necessary to carry out vital
missions for the armed forces.

“In accomplishing these projects you devoted yourself unselfishly and vigorously to the military
necessities of the nation, and made a direct contribution to the success of the air war. Your
conduct and achievements, your patriotic devotion, and your unselfish pursuit of the means to
achieve victory in the air reflect the greatest credit on you and the government and the people
of the United States.

In accepting the award, Frye extended credit to all TWA employees, stating: “It is in recognition
of the part played by all TWA employees that this award is given. I am proud to accept this
honor,” Frye told Secretary of War Patterson, “and I am happy to have been able to serve the
War Department.”

TWA, in performing its wartime service, completed more than 9,500 overseas flights, carrying
tons of urgently needed military supplies. Mail, cargo, and thousands of high ranking military
personnel and wounded service men made up the loads of TWA’s wartime Intercontinental
Division.
Top Award To Frye For War Job
To the right, Helen Frye and movie star Helen
Parrish at the grand opening of TWA's
Intercontinental Division TWA clubhouse,
Washington D.C. The guests of honor were
TWA president Jack Frye, and his wife, Helen,
Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Blackburn, and W. G.
"Swede" Golien. Directly above, can be seen
the Fryes sitting at the table behind the pillar
(right) while Mr. Blackburn (Washington D.C.
I.C.D. Manager) and his wife wave to the
crowd. July 1945
To the right we
see Jack and
Helen Frye at a
special TWA
celebration. On
this evening
Jack was
presented with
his 20-year
TWA pin.
(1926-1946).
Helen helps her husband with a slice of celebration cake while TWA guests look on. (1946)
Jack Frye served as captain on this 1946 record
flight which also tested Constellation
experimental upgrades. Frye piloted the flight
for the entire cross-country record, only leaving
the flight deck once, to conduct business and
take a break in the cabin for 1 hour.  
Helen Frye Portrait & TWA Constellation Leopard Fur 60 years later
Some 60-years later, Helen's fur coat is still
treasured, now a precious family keepsake.
Seen here with the backdrop of the Arnold
Mountfort portrait Jack Frye commissioned in
1942 which hung over his Washington D.C.
executive desk. Both these artifacts have been
TWA Celebration Washington D.C.
A Leopard Skin Fur Coat is Witness to Priceless TWA History!
witness to priceless Transcontinental & Western Air history. The fur (as seen in 1946) appears
to the right (above). In the 1950's the coat was cut down to a waist length jacket befitting the
styles of that era. Images on this page are the only ones known to survive of Helen wearing the
fur. Very few Frye artifacts have survived from this glamorous era of 1st class airline travel.