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| Jack Frye and Vice President |
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| Harry S. Truman |
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| and a TWA Air Force One |
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| Sedona Legend Mystery Series |
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| The following historical event was witnessed by a retired TWA Captain, working on the flight line at DCA in 1945. Further details of this incident are being researched and additional verification will be added as it is uncovered. So far the story has not been able to be verified by other historical sources. |
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| April 12, 1945 |
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States was at a spa in Warm Springs GA., relaxing while an artist was painting his portrait. The last words he spoke that day were: "I have a terrific headache." Although he did have health complications, his doctors had previously assured the nation that the U.S. President was in good health. At 1:15 p.m., F.D.R. suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage, by 3:30 p.m. he was dead. Roosevelt had served as president since 1933.
President John F. Kennedy once said that this event, and Pearl Harbor, were the two most memorable in America's recent history. Little did he know that his own death would become yet a third devastating loss for the nation!
The vice-president of our nation at the time was Harry S. Truman, finally it was time for him to lead our then war-torn nation. But where was the vice-president? The White House said he was in meetings that day in Washington. But was this really true?
In researching information for the "Jack and Helen Frye Story" I have met some very interesting people, some knew Jack Frye personally, a few even flew with him. These people have proved valuable and rich sources of information in regard to the Fryes. A retired TWA Captain is one of these people. He had a mysterious tale to relate about "who" Harry Truman was with the day F.D.R. died. His story though short on detail after 60 years, is monumental in its implications. I had previously withheld his name on purpose, due to the controversal nature of the event. However, now that this famous TWA pilot has recently died, I feel I can reveal "who" he is. The retired TWA Captain, Walt Gunn, never requested that I not use his name. It was I, who wanted to protect him while alive, from historians that would question a story that I have been unable to substantiate with documentation. |
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At the time in question, this TWA Captain Walt Gunn, was at "DCA" (Washington National Airport) near Arlington VA., (4 miles from Washington D.C.) It was here that he was to witness a bizarre event. On this day and time, all air traffic was held, pending the arrival of an in-bound private plane with a V.I.P. passenger. Soon it was learned that the plane was Jack Frye's personal Lockheed Lodestar, and his passenger was no other than Harry S. Truman, the United States' current vice president. After a time the TWA Lodestar eventually came into view on approach- touched down and taxied to a waiting motorcade.
Jack's private planes were not strangers to this particular airport. First his Electra NC-18137, and now his Lodestar NC-33604 were practically based here. Jack and his wife lived nearby at their Hillcrest Farm in Arlington overlooking the Potomac River. Jack's war-time Washington TWA office was just a short drive away. But this incoming executive TWA flight was somber and paramount. The airport buzz was that Jack and Harry had been on an outing down south- either fishing or hunting. In the course of the trip, Jack and Harry were radioed that F.D.R. had died. At that time, Jack felt it was more expedient to fly Harry directly to Washington in his super fast Lodestar, than deplane him to another official transport. DCA was also the closest access to the White House for a commercial plane in 1945. The Lodestar would have had a crew of three, Jack as Captain-pilot, a TWA co-pilot, and TWA Hostess. Passengers besides Truman are unknown, but likely there were several, perhaps secret service, to include a TWA Hostess, likely Harriet Appelwick. Harriet served as the Frye's personal TWA Hostess, manning all their flights. The Lodestar on that rare journey was the equivalent of an "Air Force One" carrying the yet to be sworn in, President of the United States. |
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Let's explore this story indepth- is it plausible, can it be verified?
Over three years I have found this pilot to be a rich source of information. His memory- spot on in detail, recall, and events. I have gone out of my way to document other details he has related to me, and never once found him to be in error.
As for this fantastic story? It is plausible? It was certainly no secret that Jack and Harry would often escape from their fast-paced jobs for fishing or hunting trips in Jack's Lodestar or Electra. They also shared many games of poker at Jack's Virginia estate and his country home in Kansas. |
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Shown here at DCA, is Jack Frye's executive airliner, TWA Lockheed Lodestar, fleet #241, NC-33604. This is the plane he and Harry Truman utilized for the flight. This TWA Lodestar was also occasionally used as a "Flight Research Laboratory." For detailed historical documentation on this executive plane, please see this page! |
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Verification? Not so easy. Starting with the White House I found a dead end. The story cannot be verified with official Washington documents or Truman Library papers. However, is this really a surprise? Not when one considers the implications of the event. Federal cover-ups have been rampant for decades. If the story can never be verified, then what does the tale mean? What did TWA airport personnel witness at Washington National that April day? Witnesses, I might add that are now it seems, deceased.
I have found in my research "where there is smoke, there is flame." But does the story describe the same event we are connecting it to? Could there be some other event that was similar, and somehow misinterpreted, or misassociated. So far I have found no evidence to this end. The citizens of the United States are often not told the truth in regard to matters like this. Would the White House admit that while the president was convalescing at a spa in Georgia, that the vice president was off on a fishing trip with his good friend Jack Frye? Not in a million years, especially when the president dies in office and the United States is immersed in World War II. "Where was the vice-president," people would say? "Why was the country left leaderless?" Of course the country was never in danger and Roosevelt had been ill for some time- a lame duck. |
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| I suspect in that time period, toward the end of the war, things were somewhat lax at the White House, unlike our current frenzy of White House security. Never-the-less, the White House always operates on a "cover our ass" philosophy. The official White House story says, "Truman was in Washington attending meetings on the day in question." It is my opinion this may be just a "cover story." It might interest readers to know that Jack Frye was later to become an advisor to President Harry S. Truman. It has been said Frye was the only civilian in the country that had carte blance access to the oval office during this time period- day or night. It is also common knowledge, that Jack Frye was encouraged by Washington to run for President of the United States in about 1947. A position it is not likely he ever seriously considered. Jack had just resigned from TWA, and almost immediately became president and C.E.O. of Aniline Film Corporation (July 1, 1947). Certainly Jack was well qualified as a U.S. Presidential candidate, this in regard to him being a direct descendant of a famous American Patriot, Joshua Fry(e). Frye was George Washington's commanding officer. Please see this page for details of this historic connection. Jack Frye would have been an honest and very capable President of the United States and America surely missed out when he decided to not pursue this highest of all offices. Frye was one of the most successful corporate leaders in America. Loved and respected by his peers- he had an over abundance of loyal friends, in politics and business. |
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Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson presenting Jack Frye, president of Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc., with the Medal for Merit at a ceremony in Washington. Initiated by President Truman, the honor was for: "Exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States from December 1941 to August 1945." |
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See this new page that showcases this event. |
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December 22, 1946 |
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Sedona Legend Helen Frye |
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