W.F.W. Aircraft Corporation (Thunderbird Aircraft)
(N. Paul Whittier, Jack Frye, and Theodore (Ted) A.Woolsey)
Aero Corporation of California
Standard Air Lines Inc.
Western Air Express Inc.
Transcontinental & Western Air Inc.
T.W.A.
Trans World Airlines
General Aniline & Film Corporation
Frye Corporation
Appointments and Accolades
Jack Frye, one of the founders, and long-time president of Trans World Airlines
Residence: Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona Arizona
Married: Helen Vanderbilt Frye
Before the "Stratoliners" were even in the air, Frye, together with Howard Hughes, was at work on plans for a high-speed, high-capacity express transport to cruise above 20,000 feet. Completed five years later, the famed "Constellation" set a new pattern for air transportation by inaugurating 300 mile per hour over-weather service from coast to coast and across the Atlantic.
In less than 20 years, Frye's air pioneering had cut transcontinental flying time from a 48-journey to a jaunt of less than 10 hours. In the same time, he had built TWA into a 70,000,000 company employing 17,000 people.
Trans World Airlines, of which he was president, also acquired under his direction interests in airlines in Mexico and Central America, Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil, Hawaii, Italy, Iran, Greece and the Philippine Islands as well as operating contracts with lines in Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.
Many operating methods and techniques introduced by Frye at TWA are now standard practices on the world's principle airlines.
When Frye became operating vice-president of Transcontinental and Western Air in 1930, the company boasted a combined rail and air service which took 48 hours to move passengers from coast to coast. Realizing that the way to develop air transportation was through more reliable, more comfortable and safer equipment, Frye worked with Donald Douglas to develop the first of the famous Douglas DC-series planes. TWA became the first airline to use these in commercial service and cut transcontinental flying time to 16 hours. This was in 1934, the same year Frye became president of TWA.
During the time he was head of TWA, Frye was active as a pilot, licensed to fly all types of equipment. He has set three transcontinental speed records for transports, the most recent in 1946, testing equipment he had helped TWA to develop.
Frye is a director of the Maryland Casualty Company, The World Trade Foundation, the China-America Counsel, and TACA Airlines. He is a the transportation and communication committees United States and International Chambers of Commerce, and a fellow of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences. His clubs include the California Club, Cloud Club, Wings Club, Family Club of San Francisco, Kansas City Club, and the Army and Navy Club of Washington. In 1946, Frye was awarded the Medal of Merit by the War Department for performing air transport of vital importance during the war. He was also decorated by the present Italian government for assistance in setting up air service to replace the war shattered air transportation system of that country.
"Jack Frye is director of the Air Transport Association of America and a member of the advisory committee of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, the National Aeronautical Association, and the Air Lines Committee of United States Air Policy. He is a member of a number of clubs in cities not so far apart from an aviation expert's point of view; in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. In the Second World War he holds a commission as Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve ..........." From Current Biography, 1945.
Presidential, "Medal for Merit".
December 22, 1946
Oklahoma Aviation and Space, Hall of Fame; Jack Frye.
The International Aerospace Hall of Fame, Fall 2006.
February 19, 1934- Los Angeles to New York, with Air Mail load, 13 hours 2 minutes, in a Douglas DC-1 transport.
May 14, 1934- Los Angeles to New York with Airmail, 11 hours, 31 minutes in a Northrop Gamma 2-D.
February 18, 1936- Chicago to Washington D.C., 2 hours 22 minutes in a Northrop Gamma 2-D.
April 17, 1944- Los Angeles to Washington D.C., 6 hours, 58 minutes, Lockheed Constellation, with Howard Hughes.
February 3, 1946- Los Angeles (Burbank) to New York, 7 hours 27 minutes, 48 seconds in a Lockheed Constellation. Also- Passenger Record, "Largest number of passengers carried on a single flight",
@ 45 passengers, 7 crew members. Event broke the previous TWA Stratoliner Record of July 8 - 9, 1940.
For additional details, see this page and this page.
Chicago Ill., to Washington D.C. (Transport Aircraft) February 18, 1936, Award Holder
Jack Frye, TWA, Northrop Gamma 2-D Monoplane, NR-13758, Wright Cyclone 710 h.p. engine, from Chicago Municiple Airport to Washington-Hoover Airport, s. Washington, February 18, 1936. Elasped Time 2 hr. 22 min., distance 599 miles, avergae speed 253.098 mph.
Aeronautic Association award to Mr. and Mrs. Frye.
Commercial Aircraft Altitude Record, per NAHF, @ 22,680 feet, September 1929
Stock Plane Altitude Record, @ 23,200 feet, September 15-17?, 1929 (shared with Paul Richter).
Jack Frye, entry in "Dead Stick Landing" competition".
Event Date: May 30, 1925- Long Beach Airport, (Daugherty Field) California.
First Prize: Sterling Silver Trophy
Received by Jack Frye
Please click here to see the actual trophy from 1925.
(Trophy now on display at the San Diego Aerospace Museum).
Trophy Reads:"FIRST PRIZE, DEAD STICK LANDING, WON BY JACK FRYE".
Plane likely an Alexander Eaglerock OX-5 long-wing bi-plane. (Event details being researched).
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona Ariz.
Patent Number 2,598,900
Application November 24, 1947, Serial No. 787,803
Patented June 3, 1952
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona, Ariz.
Patent Number 2,615,113
Application November 24, 1947, Serial No. 787,801
Patented October 21, 1952
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona Ariz.
Patent Number 2,629,809
Application November 24, 1947, Serial No. 787,802
Patented February 24, 1953
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona Ariz.
Patent Number 2,601,510
Application February 6, 1948, Serial No. 6,755
Patented June 24, 1954
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona Ariz.
Patent Number 2,628,473
Application May 3, 1948, Serial No. 24,887
Patented February 17, 1953
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona Ariz.
Patent Number 2,604,867
Application June 23, 1948, Serial No. 34,753
Patented July 29, 1952
Helen Varner Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona, Ariz.
Patent Number 2,635,023
Application August 18, 1948, Serial No. 44,892
Patented April 14, 1953
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona, Ariz.
Patent Number 2,591,417
Application March 8, 1950, Serial No. 148,478
Patented April 1, 1952
Jack Frye, Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona Ariz.
Patent Number 2,695,675
Application March 8, 1950, Serial No. 148,477
Patented November 30, 1954
Jack Frye, Nevajac Ranch, Crystal River, Fla.
Patent Number 2,759,090
Application October 20, 1952, Serial No. 315,704
Patented August 14, 1956
AWARDED TO PANAGRA
June 12, 1952
Jack Frye, a pioneer in commercial transport aviation and formerly president of the line now known as Trans World Airlines, awarded the trophy that bears his name to Douglas Campbell, vice president and general manager of Panagra, at a luncheon at Club 21. About forty men prominent in the aviation industry were present.
Panagra won the trophy for its El Inter Americano Fiesta Lounge flight, which links Miami and Buenos Aires in sixteen hours fifteen minutes flying time. The service is flown in Douglas DC-6 planes powered by Pratt & Whitney CB-16 engines. Two steps are made on the 4,587-mile trip and the average cruising speed is about 325 miles and hour.
Award of the trophy is based on published flight schedules studied by Alezander P. de Seversky, the plane designer, S.S. (Casey) Jones, Pioneer pilot and educator, and John B. Walker, airline executive.
The trophy is a two-handled silver cup with the name of the airline winning it, and the flight that won it engraved on the pedestal.
Aviation Executive; married Helen Varner Vanderbilt, Jan. 1, 1941.
Married Nevada Smith, July 21, 1950; 1 dau., Lili Nevajac.
Partner Burdett Flying School, 1923-24; pres. Aero Corp. of Calif., 1926-30; president Standard Air Lines, 1928-29; vice-pres. in charge of operations Western Air Express Corp., 1930; vice pres. operations Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., 1930-34, pres. and dir. 1934-1947, chmn. exec. com. since May 1939; chmn. bd. Gen. Aniline & Film Corp., General Dyestuffs Corp., April 47-55,
pres. chmn. bd. The Frye Corp., 1955-59.
Fellow Inst. Aero Sciences; dir. Maryland Casualty Co., mem. advisory committee The Institute Aeronautical Sciences; director The Air Transport Assn. of America; mem. Nat. Aeronautic Assn., Lieut. Commander U.S. Naval Reserve. Decorated Medal for Merit; Grand Officer Crown of Italy.
Clubs; Family (San Francisco); California, (Los Angeles); Kansas City Club, (Kansas City); Traffic, (Chicago); Cloud, Wings, (New York); Army and Navy, (Washington D.C.)
Home: Smoke Trail Ranch, Sedona, Ariz., Arlington, VA., New York, N.Y., Crystal River Fla.
Office: 101 W. 11th St. Kansas City, Mo., and Airlines Terminal Bldg., New York N.Y.,
230 Park Av., New York, N.Y., 617 Texas St. Ft Worth, TX. (now deceased)
Edu.: public schools. Business record: partner, Burdett Flying Sch., Los Angeles, 1923-24; pres., Aero Corp. of Calif., 1926-30; pres., Standard Airlines Div. of Aero., 1927-30; v.p.-ops., Western Air Express; v.p.-ops., dir., Transcontinental & Western Air., TWA, 1934-47; present position since 1947; transport pilot license NO. 933; altitude record, 22,680 ft. in three-engined Fokker, 1929; transcon. speed record, 13 hrs. 2 min. in DC-1, 1934; transcon. speed record, 11 hrs. 30 min., Northrop Gamma, 1934; Burbank-Washington in Constellation, 6 hrs. 57 min., 1944; Los Angeles-New York, Constellation, 7 hrs. 28 min., 1946; dir., General Aniline and Film Corp., Electronatom Corp., Maryland Casualty Co., resigned as pres., General Aniline and Film Corp., April, 1955. Military Record: U.S. Army Engrs., 1921-22; USNR as Lt. 1934; resigned Lt. comdr. 1952. Awards: Fellow, IAS; Medal for Merit; Grand Officer of Crown of Italy. Member: Quiet Birdmen; Conquistadores del Cielo; Wings Club; Army and Navy Club; California Club; Cloud Club; Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Home: Crystal River, Fla.
To read the entire article, please click here: Part 1, and Part 2.
Yavapai County Edition
"Member of the Advisory Board: Jack Frye"
Jack Frye member of the Advisory Board, Yavapai County, lives on a large ranch in the Verde Valley, his address Sedona Arizona.
Mr. Frye, President of Trans-World-Airline (TWA), is a native of Oklahoma, coming to Arizona in 1940. His business address is Washington D.C.
Mr. Frye is a member of the following clubs and organizations:
Army and Navy Club
California Club
Cloud Club
Family Club
Kansas City Club
Propeller Club
Wings Club
Academy of Political Sciences
Conquistadores del Cielo (founder)
Institute of Aeronautical Sciences
Society of Automobile Engineers
Besides his numerous activities in the Aviation field. Mr. Frye has time for his special hobbies: photography, swimming and fishing.
He served as Lt. Commander A-V (S) USNR during World War II.
One of the biggest boosters for Yavapai County, he spends much time in eulogizing the beauties of Verde Valley and the state of his adoption- Arizona.
From Pioneer Stock
This article courtesy of Jack's cousin,
retired Braniff Airline Captain, Tom Frye
and General Aniline Corporation
1927- Jack organized "Standard Airlines" a carrier division of Aero Corp. He was president of both.
1929- Jack made arrangements with Texas Pacific Railroads for the joint operations for the country's first coast-to-coast air service.
1930- Jack merged Standard Airlines with Western Air Express, becoming Vice President in charge of operations. Later that year, Western Air Express routes merged with Transcontinental Maddux Air Lines. Jack was made Vice President and Director in Charge of Operations.
Jack worked with Donald Douglas, Sr., and engineers, to develop the first famous Douglas DC Series Transport planes. In the book, The Grand Old Lady," Donald Douglas, Sr., states that the most important letter I ever received was from Jack Frye, giving specifications and various ideas on what became the DC1. Asking D. Douglas Sr., if he could build it. The rest is history.
TWA was the first to put into commercial use the DC1-DC2.
Transcontinental travel time had been reduced from 48 hours to 16 hours.
While with TWA, Jack was the first to adopt the de-icer system, Automatic Pilot, air brakes, anti-static radio, and the directional finder.
1947- Jack resigned from TWA, and became President and Chairman of the board for General Aniline and Film Corporation. After 8 years, he resigned and formed the Frye Corporation, of which he was President and Chairman of the Board.
1946- Jack was awarded the Medal for Merit by President Truman for performing air transport service in WWII. The Italian government awarded him with the "Order of Grand Officer of the Crown of Italy," for assistance and re-establishing air service after the war. (see this page)
1934- He was commissioned Lieutenant, United States Naval Reserve.
1940- Promoted to Lt. Commander. Honorably discharged in 1952.
He was a member of the Army and Navy Club (see here,) California Club, Sleepy Hollow Country Club, and the Wings Club in New York City (see here.)
1959- Jack Frye was killed in an auto accident in Tucson, Arizona and was buried there.
1962- TWA dedicated an eight-story building in Kansas City, MO., for the training of pilots, flight engineers and hostesses, as the "Jack Frye International Training Center." Ex-President Truman spoke.
Jack Frye was reinterred in Wheeler, TX., July 8, 1989, along side his brother, Don Frye, who was also an early pilot and aviation pioneer.
".....Douglas got one of his first big breaks from Jack Frye- Trans World Airlines chief, who in 1932 asked for a new, all-metal, three-engine-aircraft that could carry 12 passengers. Douglas designed a plane that could carry 14 passengers at a higher speed, with only two engines-- sealing the deal. That plane, the DC-1, laid the groundwork for Douglas to become the dominate builder of commercial aircraft. By 1934 Douglas was at work on the famous DC-3, the aircraft that would revolutionize air travel for the next 20 years and cement his place in aviation history.
During World War II, the plane became the workhorse of the U.S. military (the military version was the C-47), and was used to tow gliders, drop paratroopers and haul cargo.
In all Douglas built about 11,000 DC-3s and C-47s. Today there are still about 500 DC-3s in use by cargo companies and the military in some Third World Nations and South America....."
Jack Frye is said to be the inspiration for the development of the DC series airplanes. Donald Douglas Sr. once stated, "the most important letter I ever received was from Jack Frye." For it was Jack Frye who changed the course of Douglas Aircraft forever.
Read how this great man was cut down in the prime of his life by a drunk driver.
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Sedona Legend Helen Frye
Transcontinental & Western Air
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