sedona legend helen frye

Private Executive Planes of

Jack Frye

Longtime President and founder of Transcontinental and Western Air

Sedona Legend Profile Series

Lockheed Electra Junior 12A

NC-18137 NX-18137

one of the fastest executive planes in the country- 1940

This web-page is dedicated to: Jack and Helen Frye, whose time together is remembered vividly and fondly by so many!

This Page Best Viewed With A "WiFi" Or High Speed Connection!

In the mid-1930's, in regard to Transcontinental and Western Air becoming a major nation-wide operation, the need for an executive transport was apparent. Several planes were utilized for this purpose by president Jack Frye, the first a Lockheed Vega, in early 1930's. Interestingly this Vega was somewhat well-known, as were Jack's other planes. It is thought to have been the NC-624-E, TWA fleet number 251, per a former Frye associate. This TWA Lockheed possibly was also used for scheduled passenger service. Two Northrop Gammas followed in about 1934. Starting in 1940, two other more suitable executive transports were drafted, the TWA Lockheed Electra, and TWA Lockheed Lodestar in 1944. Two of the Gammas and both Lockheeds were designated: "Flight Research Laboratory" planes. These planes were regularly utilized in the program by both Jack Frye, and TWA research test pilot, Tommy Tomlinson. Both Gammas and the Lockheeds were designated as the private executive planes of Jack Frye, and always reserved for his use. The Electra 12, and Lodestar 18, were designed specifically by Lockheed as airline feeder transports and executive airliners. These planes were the "Cadillac" of planes- the most advanced and fastest transports of their day. It was no coincidence that Howard Hughes chose the Super-Electra 14, and Amelia Earhart the Electra 10E, for their 'round-the-world flights!

From Northrop Gamma 2-D X NR-13757
To Lockheed Electra 12A NC NX-18137

Lockheed Electra Jr.
Private executive plane of Jack Frye from September of 1940 to late fall of 1944.

Purchased by Transcontinental and Western Air from Jack Frye's friend, Bob Six, owner of Continental Air Lines. Purpose was to serve as an executive plane for Jack Frye. Also to serve in TWA's famous, overweather research program, as a "flying laboratory". Even though this plane served Continental as a scheduled passenger transport, it did not see passenger service with TWA. Photo originally provided by retired TWA Captain Walt Gunn, a former private co-pilot for the Electra, with Jack Frye.

C/N 1229 Transcontinental and Western Air Fleet #240

Probably one of the proudest moments in regard to creating this website: "The Jack and Helen Frye Story" is the documentation and discovery of the above TWA plane. Why was this so monumental? Simply because of the Sedona Legend that Jack and Helen Frye discovered their famous Arizona Ranch, now Red Rock State Park, from the air in their own private plane. A real luxury for the time period. When I first started the Frye research, no one had ever tried to identity the airplanes that were considered the "private TWA planes" of Jack and Helen Frye. However, it was paramount to me add this "visual image" to their story! Not only did I finally identify one of the most famous executive planes of Jack Frye: TWA Lockheed Electra #240, NC-18137, but I eventually located it physically as well. By this association, it was soon purchased by aviatrix, Ruth Richter. It was a real milestone for me, as I had never thought I would find the actual plane after 70 years.

a Lockheed Electra
full of trout

Vice President of TWA, Otis Bryan seen above with Jack Frye, in July of 1944. Click on photo to read the caption. See story about Bryan following below. Photo courtesy of TWA Skyliner circular.

Jack Frye is seen displaying a string of trout he and his passengers caught on a trip with his TWA Lockheed Electra 12A, NC-18137. In an uncropped version not displayed, we see an unidentified gentleman with him holding the other end of the line, possibly the co-pilot for this trip, or a TWA office employee. Notice the slider cockpit window. Jack rarely had time for "R & R" but when he did he thoroughly enjoyed himself. Jack used the Electra mostly for presidential business, commuting to and from his various residences and ranches, TWA's famous flight research program, and TWA route surveying. Jack was always so busy with TWA he always had to combine business with all his air trips. It has been said Jack's good friend Harry Truman occasionally flew with him in the Electra on hunting and fishing trips as well! This photo was captured in 1942 or 1943. Jack's sister Sunny graciously shared this image with me, although she told me she didn't understand why Jack sent her the cropped version. Either way it has graced the wall of her California home for over 50 years. The location? Obviously airport tarmac, possibly Kansas City. Often Jack and his friends would fly southeast from there to fish. I have another color photo of Jack fishing near Flagstaff at about the same time frame. As an avid photographer, Jack meticulously documented his aviation career with his own advanced camera equipment. This is likely one of those photos.

Occasionally, Jack loaned his Lockheed Electra out to TWA personel if it involved TWA business or a favor. One such incident was May of 1941. To paraphrase-from Robert Serling's book, "Howard Hughes' Airline," Jack enlisted Otis Bryan to help him and his friend General Hap Arnold locate a
suitable site for a new TWA military flight training center. The training school would eventually be called "Eagles Nest." (Interestingly.......the same name of the highest red rock bluff at Jack and Helen Frye's Sedona Arizona ranch which they purchased in 1941.) Jack loaned his personal plane to Bryan, who toured the country extensively trying to find a suitable location. Eventually Bryan located the perfect site near Albuquerque New Mexico and personally oversaw the organization and operation of the center. In Serling's book it is stated in error that the plane used was a Lockheed 14. To my knowledge TWA never owned a Super Electra and such a plane was certainly never associated with Jack Frye. It is well documented during the time-period, Jack's personal plane was the Lockheed Electra 12A, TWA NC-18137. Likely this is the plane Bryan is actually referring to. Certainly an understandable typo, as both planes are close Lockheed sisters. Howard Hughes owned a Super Electra (14) but it was NOT used for TWA business- ever. Howard kept this famous record-breaking-plane under lock down when he wasn't flying it.

Later on December 24, 1941 as a direct connection with this incident Jack signed into effect the Inter-Continental Division of TWA, or (ICD.) Another interesting incident with Jack's plane came shortly after, paraphrased again from Serling's detailed research. Bryan had returned to Kansas City from Albuquerque, New Mexico, December of 1942, where he had been overseeing the TWA ICD. Jack's secretary met the exhausted Otis at the airport where she told him he was to report to Jack Frye immediately. At this meeting, Jack asked Bryan to help TWA launch a program to train the Army in operating TWA Stratoliners, from Cairo Egypt-Washington D.C. In consideration that Bryan had returned to Kansas City, for the holidays, and to go quail hunting in the Ozarks, Jack as a favor, loaned Otis his personal plane to expedite the hunting trip, so he could return to Washington D.C., A.S.A.P. Bryan was left with the instructions, "get your ass back here and start the Cairo operation- you will be based in Washington." A perfect example of Jack's generosity and keen business sense in rewarding his employees with incentives for their commitment to TWA. Actions like this, a regular occurrence with Jack, cemented his standing as TWA's most beloved and valued leader.

Eagles Nest Training Center; Jack Frye Training School
Albuquerque Journal, N.M. via-Tech. SGT. Medema 377 Air Base Wing Historian
Kirtland AFB heritage Base, TWA train WW II 4-engine bomber crews
August 6, 1999

June 1941, Kirtland AFB was the home of a 4-engine transition school designed to train pilots to move from 2-engine to 4-engine aircraft. Transcontinental and Western Airlines (TWA) operated the Air Corps Ferry Command Four-Engine Transition School. Students more popularly knew it as the "Jack Frye Training School," named for its director, the well known aviator. Located at the "Eagles Nest Flight Center," TWA's instructors trained over 1,100 pilots and crewman using Link Trainers and B-24 bombers. However, on July 1, 1942, the Army Air Corps transferred the school to Smyrna, Tenn., as the Combat Crew Training School. On Aug. 1, 1943, the Army Air Force established a new 4-Engine Training School at Kirtland AFB. The school opened August 3, at the GI Opera House on "West Kirtland." Instructors trained new pilots to transition to 4-engine B-24 bombers. Officer students attended a nine-week course to qualify them to the aircraft commanders. Soon after the school opened, 10 B-24 "Liberators" landed on the Kirtland AFB runway. Albuquerque again heard the roar 4-engine aircraft missing since the "Jack Frye School" transferred and the 19th Bombardment Group deployed to the Far East in the Autumn of 1941. Pilots, experienced in B-24 bombers and many with recent combat experience, trained officer trainees on 4-engine bomber maneuvers. Most of the students were sent to Kirtland AFB after earning their wings at other multi-engine training bases.

Maj. Harry E. Campbell, formerly an executive director of the "Jack Frye School," served as director of the fledgling unit. Pilots trained with a full bomber crew including other bombardier cadets. Instructors divided the students into flights and assigned them to three groups. Each group flew practice missions for five and a half hours daily. These missions included bomber orientation, bomber tactics and mock bomb runs south of Kirtland AFB. Along with the student pilots, mechanics-electricians-welders and other technicians, arrived at the Kirtland AFB to ensure the bombers stayed in the air. They performed maintenance on both B-24 and AT-11 aircraft at the base. Technicians devised a means of keeping the B-24s in the air as much as 18 hours a day. Production line maintenance allowed maintainers to accomplish maintenance turn-around of the aircraft in an average of 12 hours. Starting from scratch, Campbell created a school that turned out pilots skilled in combat tactics in 4-engine bombers. The combination of bombardier and pilot made a menacing team over the skies of Nazi Germany and other Axis countries. The effectiveness of this teamwork depended on the bombardiers and pilots understanding the complexities involved in each other's jobs. The Army Air Force Pilot School helped pioneer the pilot-bombardier tactics that were so effective against the enemy and critical for allied victory in World War II.

Lockheed Electra NC-18137 Mystery Flight-
V.I.P. Passenger- Movie Star Bette Davis- Jack Frye Pilot

Another example of Jack's generosity in assuring his private plane was made available for special circumstances is seen in the newspaper article to the right. For sometime I have been aware that Bette Davis was at one time a passenger on Jack's private Lockheed Electra (pictures available on the web), however I was not aware of the circumstances. Recently though I came across the information needed to document this flight. The air trip was on October 22, 1941- Kansas City to Rochester, Minnesota. The Electra was forced to land around 10 a.m. due to heavy fog after cruising speeds of over 200 m.p.h. The pilot was Jack Frye, president of TWA. Ironically Bette, "Farny", Jack, and Helen were all married in Arizona. The Date? Exactly one day apart- Jack and Helen were married in Scottsdale on January 1, 1941. Bette Davis and Arthur Farnsworth were married in Rimrock Arizona on December 31, 1940. The unusual remote location of Rimrock? Perhaps a dude ranch, and it is said they were staying with friends. Incidentally, Rimrock is a stone's throw from the famous Sedona Frye Ranch. This coincidence may be in part, why Jack offered to help Bette or perhaps the fact that Bette and Howard Hughes were ex-lovers. Howard was always asking Jack to do him a favor. Jack may have had a business trip as well, the same day.

The name of Jack's plane was "RESEARCH" as seen on the nose. See picture below to the left.

Lockheed Electra 12A, NC-18137, named appropriately "Research" by Jack Frye, as seen to the left in a TWA photo. From about 1942 to 1947, Jack worked at the TWA executive office in Washington D.C. and lived with Helen at the TWA executive residence in Falls Church (Arlington) Virginia. Jack's executive transport, the Lockheed Electra 12A, was often seen parked at the DCA- TWA Terminal. As reflected in the photo, the plane was constantly maintained by TWA ground crews (shown is Chester Calkins). This enabled the plane to be utilized by Jack on a moment's notice. In an interview with Jack's sister, she related that Jack confided to her once that Howard Hughes borrowed her brother's private plane so often, that Jack started charging Hughes $25.00 a day. A token fee to be sure, but likely TWA needed to show revenue on the books for equipment not being used for official TWA business. Howard was notorious in believing that everything TWA possessed should be delegated for his own use at any time. This to include flight crews and TWA airliners. Why Howard felt he needed to borrow the Lockheed Electra and Lodestar is unclear, in regard to he himself having several private planes himself. Perhaps merely his practise of getting other entities to pay for his whims? Whatever the reason the stories are accurate and documented, as seen throughout this page.

One of the very first times Jack Frye was in the newspapers with a reference to his new Lockheed Electra was the article above. He and Helen were due to be married on January 1, 1941 and Jack was flying out to meet her in Scottsdale for Christmas. However, it was not the first time Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr., had flown in the Jack's Electra. Over a period of several months in the fall of 1940, they took trips together canvasing the Western United States by air, looking for new ranch property. This property was eventually discovered in Sedona Arizona with the Electra, and became the Frye Smoke Trail Ranch, now Red Rock State Park.

Jack and Helen Frye discover their famous
Sedona Frye Ranch with their Lockheed Electra

Arizona Newspaper Article from July 8, 1948 (in part)

Many long-time Arizonians will remember this 44-year-old executive as the man who inaugurated the state's first commercial air service. As president of the early-day Standard Airlines, based in Los Angeles, he set up in 1927 a route linking that city with Phoenix and Tucson, and later extended operations to include El Paso and Dallas, Texas.
   Holder of the state's first transport pilot's license, Frye not only directed Standard's activities but also skippered the line's one airplane.
   "We made three round trips a week between here and the coast," he said, "and on Sundays got the airplane back into shape."
   In 1930 the small air line merged into the Western Air Express Corporation, with Frye assuming the post of vice-president. Later that year, the new firm joined with Transcontinental Air Transport to form the present Trans World Airline. Prior to taking over the top job with the latter company in 1934, he served for four years as vice-president in charge of operations.
   Frye's liking for Arizona, which took root during his early flying days, culminated seven years ago in the purchase of his Oak Creek canyon home and of his ranch in Spring Valley northwest of Flagstaff. But this descendent of Texas cattlemen didn't choose his permanent home site in a hit-or-miss fashion. He gave to the search the same shrewd insight which has characterized his business operations.

As he tells it:
   "My wife and I decided we wanted to settle in the Southwest, preferably alongside some water. First we flew over all of New Mexico, hitting every stream. Then we started on Arizona. As soon as we got over the Oak Creek area, my wife pointed down and said, 'There's our spot.'"
   "I didn't think there was enough water in the canyon for our purposes, but to please her I set the ship down at Prescott, contacted a real estate man, and within 24 hours had purchased our present spot."
   This week Frye is winding up purchase of another sizeable ranch in the northern part of the state which will give him total holdings of more than 50,000 acres. He plans to start large scale cattle ranching operation, thus bringing to life a long standing dream.
   "Owning a paying cattle ranch is my idea of the way to live," he noted, explaining that one day during the depression, "when businessmen were jumping out of windows," he was caught in rough weather over the Texas panhandle and landed on a ranch owned by an uncle.
    "Those folks were doing all right while the rest of the nation was going crazy," he said. "So that night in 1931 I told myself 'This is for me.'"

Hiding In Plain Site

A Private Airstrip near the Frye Smoke Trail Ranch
to accomodate Jack's Lockheed Electra NC-18137

The photos to the left and below were sent to me in (2004) by a generous web-surfer, Joan LaPlace. The story of how she came to possess the photos is on this page.
In regard to Jack's TWA executive planes, I had been searching for new photos of the Electra and Lodestar, and at the same time asking Jack for a little intuitive help. One night I was looking through the photos Joan had sent me, and noticed these two (adjoining) which I had labeled, "Jack and the DC-1" which was also a research plane. All of the sudden, I realized that I had grossly misinterpreted the photos! They were actually of Jack and his executive plane the Lockheed Electra 12A, NC-18137, TWA's "Flight Research Laboratory." When I originally labeled the photos I was not familiar with the Electra-NC-18137 lettering.

Jack Frye obviously guided me to re-visit the above photos, saying in essence, "Here is exactly what you are looking for!" Not only are the photos priceless and extremely rare, but they were taken on one of Jack and Helen Frye's coveted trips out West to their Sedona ranch. The photo location is their private Sedona airstrip located at Cornville Road and 89A. The airstrip is still there and was founded by Jack Frye himself, in 1941. The airstrip was built specifically to land the TWA Lockheed 12A, NC-18137, and later, the Lodestar near the Sedona Frye Ranch. This discovery all meshes nicely with the Walt Gunn story which I meticulously documented and verified with Walt several years ago. I was overwhelmed that I had missed the monumental significance of the images. They truly were hiding in plain site, and revealed themselves at the appropriate time when they could be meticulously documented and fully appreciated. Keep in mind these photos are from Jack Frye's personal collection. (They are not known to be in public hands.) They were found at an auction together with other images from the Sedona ranch, items originally known to a part of Jack Frye's estate. I was always puzzled by the desert background of these two photos and sand runway, but never thought to compare them to the Sedona-Verde Valley region where Jack's airstrip is located. If I had recognized the cropped images of the plane, I would have naturally placed the scene near Sedona. Recently I had time to visit the airstrip and compare the horizons. For two consecutive days, I walked the vague boundries of the landing field for hours. With photos in hand and a map of the original runway, I was finally able to match the horizons exactly.

Call it "spooky," but standing in the middle of the desert airstrip near Tuzigoot National Monument, trying to get an intuitive insight into the mystery photos, it flashed in my mind when they may have been captured-October 25, 1941. This is the day over two hundred people attended the dedication of the new airfield, which was a combo Jack Frye private landing field and public airport. That important October day, excited local people listened to Jack, who not only was one of the best pilots in the country, but a national aviation celebrity as well. In his speech, Jack talked about the future of Verde Valley aviation and TWA. In addition, he took a few local aviation officials on air flights over the location in his "private Lockheed," as a newspaper writer coined it. Jack always shared his accomplishments and it was only logical for him to open what was meant to be his "private" airstrip for public use. There was no airport in Sedona at the time, and landing locations in the Red Rock Country were primitive at best. Through the years Jack and Helen landed here with both their TWA executive planes, the 12A, and the Lodestar. Many local Sedona residents witnessed the arrival and departure of these beautiful polished to a mirror finish TWA airliners. These flights were the VERY first by any major airline (TWA) into the Sedona- Verde Valley region. The airstrip today is a lonely place the perimeters hard to discern, but from the air it is clearly revealed. After all these years, a passenger on Jack's Electra clearly remembers stepping out onto this airstrip some 65 years ago! Please read the remarkable below on this page.

On my recent visit I found the main runway to be quite large, nearly a mile in length, the grade a slight incline. The other service exit runway was about a 1/2 mile long. The main runway is about 150 feet wide. There were fueling facilities and some buildings built. A lone rusty 5 gallon fuel can still sits on the edge of the strip. Many insist Jack and Helen owned the property outright, one even thought the land may have been leased from the school district. Either way, Jack used the landing field regularly for the next 9 years, and several times thereafter. Unfortunately because of the war, the location was never to become a regional airport, and eventually was forgotten. Today standing on the wind swept sage brush flats, one drifts back in time and can almost hear the throaty roar of the Electra and Lodestar radial engines as Jack brought the airships in for his trademark perfect landings. To read more about Jack and Helen's airstrip, which for a time was also called the "Verde Valley Airport," see the newspaper account of the dedication attended by Jack Frye and his TWA Lockheed Electra, on Saturday-October 25, 1941, below.

This scan, from a current U.S. Forest Service map, clearly details the runway of Jack and Helen Frye's private airstrip. This airfield which Jack financed privately, was created specifically to land his private TWA Lockheed-Electra 12A airliner, and later his Lodestar airliner. This location gave TWA president Jack Frye access to his nearby Smoke Trail Ranch, now Red Rock State Park. Many TWA clients and associates were flown into this location to be entertained as guests of Jack and Helen Frye at their famous ranch. Howard Hughes was said to have visited the ranch twice and could possibly have landed here too.

NEW AIRPORT OPENING CEREMONIES

Bridgeport, Ariz., Tuesday Oct. 28, 1941

Verde Valley residents, led by the Irwin D. Major Post of the American Legion, and other civic organizations, are seeking government assistance in the development of the Verde Valley Airport, which was dedicated Saturday. Jack Frye of Kansas City, MO., president of Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc., was the principle speaker of the program, which was attended by several hundred Verde Valley residents. Holder of pilot license No. 1 for the State of Arizona, Mr. Frye flew to the field in his private Lockheed plane.

Improvements Needed: "The Verde Valley Airport is in a good position to be inestimable value to this section of the country as either an Army Base, or a commercial field," Mr. Frye said. "Of course, additional improvements would have to be made, since the field as it stands today is valuable only as a day field. If government aid were obtained in improving the field, it would be an easy matter to effect the installation of lights and good paved runways. The Verde Valley has long been known to TWA pilots as having excellent flying weather at practically all times of the year. A negligible expenditure would complete the runway setup to provide an outstanding day field."

Flying Conditions Ideal: Flying conditions in the Verde Valley are comparable to those experienced at Phoenix and Tucson, speakers said. Conditions for gliding also are ideal, they added.

Several members of the local airport committee were taken by Mr. Frye on a flight over the field- George Thiel, and son Roger, John Burke, Frank Eden, and Karl Norton, all of Cottonwood. To climax the ceremonies, Dave Roos, local instructor of the Hispanic Flying Club, flew directly over the landing field and dropped a large American Flag which drifted to the ground, while the "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played.

Verde Valley Airport Being Constructed By U.S. Army

Flagstaff Newspaper, November 7, 1941

Many interested people of the Verde Valley and Oak Creek district held a meeting this week conferring with Dr. T.J. Tormey president of Flagstaff State College and also chairman of the Flagstaff Housing Authority in reference to housing 100 to 200 men in Flagstaff if the U.S. Army approves an airport now under consideration at a site about 15 miles south of Sedona and six miles this side of Cottonwood.
Army officials have made two surveys of the proposed site and according to W.C. Steele have seemed favorable. The land is leased by Jack Frye, president of Transcontinental and Western Air., and he has offered it to the Army. At present there is an airport on the site with two runways. The land is extremely flat and runways can be extended as long as three miles. Weather conditions and low altitudes have also been highly in favor of the airport. However according to Steele the Army will not consider the site until facilities have been found to house the men. If the airport goes through it would be a considerable benefit to Flagstaff and as well the Verde district.

Jack and Helen board a passenger for a pre-Halloween flight!

Amazingly by chance I was able to connect the above event with a newspaper article I have had for several years that appears below. The article describes yet one of many trips Jack and Helen made out to their Sedona ranch in the Jack's Lockheed Electra NC-18137. Obviously this time they scheduled the trip so Jack could be the "guest of honor" at the above celebration. For whatever reason, perhaps re-fueling, Jack stopped in Albuquerque, and happened to run into an old friend, Timothy Riordon. He and Helen offered him a flight to the Flagstaff Airport in their private Lockheed Electra, after which time they departed again for the Frye private landing-port, near Smoke Trail Ranch and Sedona, Arizona.

PILOT, PASSENGER TOGETHER AGAIN

Flagstaff Journal, Thursday, October 30, 1941

T.A. Riordan of Flagstaff was flown from Albuquerque to Flagstaff last Friday by Jack Frye, president of Transcontinental and Western Airline, landing at Koch Field. It was the first time that Mr. Riordan has seen Mr. Frye since 1927, when Mr. and Mrs. Riordan took their first plane ride with Jack Frye at the controls. (Please see this page for a letter describing the 1927 air trip with pilot Frye).

A handwritten note attached to the article, written by Mr. Riordan, states the following:
Jack Frye, T.W.A. President, and his wife, picked me up at Albuquerque, N.M., October 24, 1941 at 10-10 a.m., and dropped me at Koch Field, Doney Park,
Flagstaff at 11:45 a.m. same day- Great Treat!
signed: T.A.R. (Timothy A. Riordan)

So what was the flight like that Friday afternoon before Halloween in Jack's Lockheed Electra?
Flight miles from Albuquerque to Flagstaff: 329 miles. Time in the air: 1 hr and 35 minutes. Speed of the plane at cruise: 226 m.p.h. (averaged). Power: Twin Pratt and Whtney R-985 engines @ 450 h.p. each, combined total of 900 h.p. Without a doubt one of the fastest most sophisticated executive planes ever designed, even by today's standards!

Shown in a TWA file photo is the Lockheed Electra NC-18137 "Research."
The photo likely intended for a postcard was taken during the early 1940's. The image shows the plane polished to a blinding mirror finish. The plane wore its markings in brilliant red. Notice the two stripes on the tail and the TWA Fleet Number "240" with the registration number NC-18137. This paint pattern matched the Constellation airliners of the time period. Over the windows, enhanced by a long stripe, is displayed: "The TRANSCONTINENTAL Line,"

On the nose is the famous TWA circle with arrow, and the name of the plane directly underneath: "RESEARCH." The circle was used on other TWA passenger planes, but positioned more under the cockpit windows. Under the second passenger window it reads, "FLIGHT RESEARCH LABORATORY." Barely visible on the rear quarter panel is "TWA," in large red lettering. Both the TWA Electra and Lodestar bore similar markings. On many TWA planes the fleet number was stamped on the nose, as in the Lodestar. Both planes were readily recognized within the airline as "the official planes" of TWA president Jack Frye. One interesting notation in regard to this comes from Jack's cousin Tom Frye, a Braniff Airways Captain who retired after a 30 year career. He commented to me that one time Jack landed the Lockheed Electra on a local grass strip near Wheeler Texas on a flight to visit his father and stepmother. As for the Lodestar, Tom says he once landed a Braniff airliner at Kansas City, and observed a highly polished Lockheed Lodestar with TWA markings parked uncharacteristically on a ramp. After he unloaded his passengers he proceeded to inquire of TWA officials, "what is that TWA Lodestar doing sitting out there on the ramp like that?" Tom said he was told, "that's Jack Frye's personal plane, and it's parked out there at the ready, for his use." This was before he realized his cousin Jack had obtained a new executive plane. The Lockheed Electra photo above shows the 12A sitting in a similar parking position at the Kansas City TWA air terminal awaiting Jack's use on a moment's notice. I asked Tom why he didn't go to work for TWA? He related it was against TWA company policy to hire relatives. I guess at times, even the president and founder of an airline can't break the rules!

A Young Man Remembers A 1942 Flight
On Lockheed Electra NC-18137 With Jack and Helen Frye

Because of Jack's involvement with TWA, it seems many people who remember the Fryes always have a story about airplanes. Jack Frye was all about air transportation, and Sedona's early history is forever cemented with TWA. Roy's association with the Fryes was certainly no exception. Jack, who came from a long line of very successful cattle ranchers wanted to stock the Sedona ranch with bovines. This was characteristic for Jack and Helen who by 1948, had acquired over 50,000 acres of ranching property in Arizona alone. All this property was successfully operated.

During one of the times Jack and Helen were at the ranch in about 1942, Jack needed to fly down to the valley (Phoenix) to purchase stock for the ranch. Roy was available this Saturday morning, so Jack asked him if he would like to fly down with Helen, Dolly Schuerman, and himself. Roy jumped at the chance to fly in the futuristic 1937 Lockheed Electra 12A. Jack drove them over to the Frye property at the corner of Cornville Road and Highway 89A where they boarded the Lockheed Electra, parked at the Frye airstrip. After everyone was settled in, Jack started the mighty engines one by one. After running them up he released the brakes. The Electra gently started rolling down the packed sod runway, smooth as silk. As it gained speed it lifted off with a throaty roar. As the polished to a mirror-finish, TWA Electra climbed into the sky, it would have been a blinding sight in the intense early morning sun. Keeping low in the air, Jack flew northeast for about 15 miles, at which time he flew low over his Smoke Trail Ranch. Roy was amazed at how small the property looked from the air, a fairytale land of red rock spires and pinnacles.

At Baldwins's Crossing (now Cathedral Rock), Jack banked to the south and climbed to about 10,000 feet, throttling back to cruise speed. At over 200 mph they followed a sky-route from Sedona to (what is now) Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. In mid-flight, Jack asked Roy to come up and sit in the right seat of the cockpit and take control of the Electra, a seat Helen often occupied. Roy related that he was very nervous and remembers resting his hand on the throttle levers of the two R-985 Pratt and Whitney radial engines. He immediately felt the vibration of the powerful whirlwind engines, and was abruptly taken aback. Jack showed him the basics of control, and then let Roy take over. At least Jack let Roy "think" he was flying the plane. Eventually Roy surrendered the controls back to Jack who navigated the 36 foot mini-airliner south into the desert heat. In our day it takes 2 hours to drive from Sedona to Phoenix, in 1942 it would have taken more than 3 hours on the then long winding Highway 89A. There was no I-17, Black Canyon Freeway at the time. It took Jack and his passengers less than 30 minutes to reach Phoenix that hot summer morning. As one of the most outstanding airplanes ever designed, the Lockheed Electra is still one of the fastest twin engine planes ever produced and remained one of Jack's favorite personal planes. The design was so remarkable that both Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes chose nearly identical Electras for their round-the-world flights.

As they neared the airspace over Phoenix Arizona, Jack radioed the tower saying: "this is TWA-18137 requesting landing clearance." This airport was very familiar to Jack, as he and his partners, Paul Richter and Walter Hamilton initiated the very first scheduled passenger service into Arizona in 1927 with Jack flying the very first flight! The routes between Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, Douglas and El Paso were pioneered by Standard Airlines, with company president Jack Frye often the pilot. Later Jack with TWA, launched the very first Trans-Atlantic passenger service for the United States. Roy, Helen, and Dolly, sat visiting while they watched the palm trees and red tile roofs come in closer and closer. As the Electra's mirrored reflection raced over the mansions of Scottsdale, they touched down on the tarmac, the engines rumbling lightly as they eventually taxied to a stop. Jack went through his shut down procedures, and in a moment he was opening the door and setting out the steps. Roy waited for Helen and Dolly to be helped out of the plane by Jack, and then he too jumped out on the hot ramp. The intoxicating fragrance of citrus trees wafted all around them. A TWA courtesy car was waiting for the president of TWA, and his guests. They were whisked off to the now famous Tovrea Stockyards. Jack and Roy viewed cattle to purchase, and made arrangements for them to be shipped up to Sedona in a big cattle truck. These were added to the cattle Jack had already purchased, to include about 20 from Roy's family ranch.

After Helen and Dolly returned from shopping they all had an Arizona steak dinner at the landmark stockyard restaurant. Late in the day they returned to the Electra. It looked like a rocket ship sitting in the presence of bi-planes and Ford tri-motors. After Jack took care of business at the TWA terminal office they finally took off soaring into a magnificent Arizona sunset. As the clearance lights twinkled far above the city, Roy fell into a hypnotic trance staring out the port window. He imagined he could see all the way to Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. Over the engines in the background he could just barely hear Jack and Helen visiting in the cockpit. The horizon lost its light to the golden hues of a setting sun, as the airliner climbed north to Sedona. Just as Roy was starting to really relax, Jack announced they were due to touch down in about 5 minutes. Roy watched intently as the ground came into view, with the engines nearly silent now at idle, the plane swung in low and glided over the highway where the brilliant landing lights illuminated the sage brush and pavement like daylight. They touched down amid running Jack Rabbits and rolled to a smooth stop near where the Frye ranch car was parked. Roy stepped down from the Electra into the cool desert evening. The Arizona stars reflected brilliantly off the mirrored surface of the plane and the smell of sagebrush and hot oil assailed his senses. The only sound was crickets, and the ticking of the hot radial engines.

A milestone in his young life- Roy vowed to never forget the experience! Now after 63 years, the memory is as vivid as day, replayed in his 96 year old mind.... Please see the Frye Deer Lick Ranch.

Helen and Jack Frye, at the Frye Deer Lick Ranch, now (Cross Creek Ranch Estates) Sedona Arizona, ready to be driven out to their private airstrip to board their private executive plane, TWA Lockheed Electra 12A, NC-18137, outbound to TWA corporate offices in Kansas City, MO., circa about 1942. (Circumstances of photograph related by the photographer Roy Kurtz, Jack and Helen's former ranch foreman.)

New Vintage Photo of Jack's Lockheed Electra available-

Over the last three years I became aware of a female pilot-historian, Ruth Reinhold, who had done quite a bit of research and documentation of Standard Airlines and Transcontinental and Western Air, before her death. Her name is well known in Arizona aviation circles, widely respected for her early aviation pioneering, and knowledge of aviation history from an era, she herself lived. Not only did this lady know the people she wrote about, but she flew with them. One person she notated in her writings was Jack Frye. Ruth left behind a considerable photographic archive, part of which is addressed at the Arizona State Library- Arizona Historical Foundation. Please click here for an online photo of Jack Frye's Lockheed Electra Research plane as seen parked at the Clemenceau Airport- Cottonwood, Arizona, in about 1942. The visit was when Jack attended the commencement of the Civilian Pilot Training Program. I was aware that Jack sponsored the program, but up until now I had not been privy to a photo of the event. Jack often attended such local air events when he was in the area, staying at his Sedona ranch.

The description from Ruth Reinhold's photo states as follows:
"TWA Flight Research Laboratory- At Clemenceau Airport after the commencement of the first Civil Pilot Training Program, TWA Lockheed Electra 10E (sic.) The aircraft was used for high altitude experiments. NC18137 was known in Arizona as Jack Frye's personal airplane, and was frequently based at his airport north of Tuzigoot. People here are unidentified."

Wonderful documentation of the Electra NC-18137- with photo. The text is incorrect, only in the identification of the plane as a "10E." The 10-E, was Amelia Earhart's last model and very similar in appearance. Jack was never associated with any Electra other than the one in the photo, which is clearly his 12A, evidenced by the Registration Number. The men in the image are not officially identified, although the tall one looks similar to Jack Frye. However, with flight glasses on it is hard to tell for sure. Jack did always wear tinted military flight glasses. He was enlisted as a Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander at this time, which would account for the uniform-like appearance. Even with the large jpeg file provided to me by the AZ State Library, the photo is too grainy for positive identification. The only clue is that Jack towered above all other men with a staggering 6 foot 2 inch frame. The most intriguing element to the photo is that it shows the engine cowlings of the plane painted red up to the leading edge of the wings. I have never seen this paint pattern before on this particular plane. Jack always kept the engines free of paint, and polished. It is historically noted that the engines were changed at one time and this may be the evidence of a different set of engines which may have been painted, unlike the usual ones shown in photos.

Above, Jack Frye lands on Catalina Island, California, in his Lockheed Electra. Below he is photographed as he steps down out of the plane, Jack Frye, president of Transcontinental and Western Air is greeted by the attendants of Wilmington Catalina Airlines at Catalina Island. Jack was said to have always flown this plane with a co-pilot. Within TWA there were always pilots designated for this purpose, (considered a coveted assignment). However, I have also heard that Jack ocassionally flew the plane by himself too. Date is between 1940 to 1945.

Jack Frye, President and Director of Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc., is the only executive head of a major airline holding an airline transport pilot's license. He has over 5,000 flying hours in his pilot's log--and when not busy concentrating on management problems, Mr. Frye frequently flies his airline's research plane on survey trips.

The striking ad displayed above, is the one of a very few color photos of Jack Frye, taken in about April of 1941. It shows Jack at the beginning of his marriage to Helen, and is key to an important element of Jack having unusual access to new Pontiacs when new cars were hard to obtain, (due to World War II.) Please see related story of this association on this page. The inset text of the ad is displayed below for easier reading. (Keep in mind information in caption was current for 1941.) The plane referred to is the TWA (Flight Research Laboratory) Lockheed Electra 12A (NC-18137) that Jack and Helen Frye one year prior flew in when they discovered the famous Frye Ranch in Sedona, AZ........the rest is Sedona Legend History! Ad ran in May 1941- Time Magazine. Courtesy of TWA and Pontiac Motor Division of GMC.

Transcontinental and Western Air's
Famous: Overweather Flight Research Program

TWA Research Planes serve dual purpose,
Overweather flight research and executive transport for president Jack Frye.

Adjoining we see the Lockheed Electra 12A registration number N-18137, after completing flight tests for TWA. The caption reads: "TWA President Jack Frye, and TWA Executive Vice President Paul Richter checking data on one of the innumerable test flights in the famous TWA "Research." The ad further states: "At Kansas City Airport where TWA's operations base is located, TWA's famous fact-finding laboratory "Research," has just landed. It brings to President Jack Frye, and his Vice President, Paul Richter, performance data......on instruments, lubricants and fuels." The ad, published in the early 1940's, served as a promo for Texaco, in conjunction with TWA. It is interesting to note that Texaco later purchased this Lockheed from TWA in 1945, most likely due to the publicity promos of the plane by TWA.

Miraculously the TWA publicity photo that was used for the above magazine ad has surfaced after some 65 years as shown to the right.
The photo appears here courtesy of Patrick Chateau of the indepth
TWA ROISSY CDG Website.

Harry S. Truman, future president of the United States-
V.I.P. passenger on TWA Electra NC-18137
A weekend adventure: new wardrobe, poker, 21 Club.

Yes, Harry Truman was a passenger on the Lockheed Electra many times over. Most the trips were not "official", therefore I have had a difficult time documenting them. Jack Frye was one of the most influential men of the Democratic Party in the 1940's. It is not at all surprising that he and Harry became friends, let alone the fact that they both hailed from the same region of the country in regard to business, (MO). Jack was considered a mover and shaker within the hierarchy of the party, and if you needed a favor or wanted something done, you called Jack.

In July of 1944, Truman became the nominee for Vice President of the United States. It was shortly after this nomination that Harry and other Democratic officials flew in the Lockheed Electra NC-18137, with Jack as pilot, to New York. One of the other trips is discussed on this page: a TWA Air Force One.

Recently I came across a transcript of an oral interview done for the Truman Library with Edwin W. Pauley, then Director of the Democratic National Convention, and a friend of Jack Frye.

Truman Library Interviewer: J. R. Fuchs, date March of 1971.
Question to Pauley:
"I've been told that after the nomination, you thought that Mr. Truman ought to spruce himself up a bit as the vice-presidential nominee?"
Pauley- "I think that was the unanimous concern of all of us. We persuaded him to go to New York and flew him up. Jack Frye had a plane at the time, and it was available, so we flew up in that and he went to my tailor and shirtmaker and dolled himself up as a vice-presidential candidate should look."

Question to Pauley:
"Are there any events that stand out in your memory, sidelights on history, after the nomination of Mr. Truman?"
Pauley- "When we flew the vice-president-to-be to New York, we used a suite I kept at the Sherry-Netherland Hotel. Another fellow and I owned most the bonds in the Sherry-Netherland and as a result, we kept one of the top suites there all during the war because I was back and forth on lend-lease. It occupied a whole floor; the Sherry-Netherland is very narrow at the top and there were only three bedrooms. We got the suite below mine for Truman. As usual, when Truman wasn't busy with official
appointments he liked to play cards, and very often the game was poker. He delighted, I think, in that more than any other relaxation he had. He used to do pretty well at it, particularly when he played games which he invented."

Question: "How's that?" Pauley- "I don't think they have an official title, but sometimes you'd play them with two, and sometimes three decks, and then by the time you got through naming the wild cards, you didn't know what the hell you were playing. But he enjoyed it, and so did Hannegan and Jack Frye and myself. When I took him down to my tailor one morning, I said, 'You've never eaten at the 21 Club
have you?' He said, 'No.' I said, 'Do you want to?' He said, 'Sure, whatever you want me to do.' So we went by, you know where '21' is in New York, don't you? Fuchs- "I've been by it sir." Pauley- "Well during prohibition it was a speakeasy, so its reputation wasn't the greatest, although after prohibition it became quite a famous restaurant because only famous people could get in the speakeasy when it was operating, and so it built a top list of clientele. He enjoyed that very much. I didn't tell him until we got to it what it had been, although I don't think it would have made a great deal of difference."

Jack and Helen Frye were often seen at the 21 Club, as was Jack throughout his life. Harry Truman was a guest at the Frye Overland Park home, and the Frye Hillcrest Farm, at Arlington VA., also known as the Cedars, and the Doubleday Mansion. One might wonder why Truman needed wardrobe advice in light of the fact that he was a haberdasher by trade. The inference to me is that the Democratic Party was trying to dress the future vice president in a more conservative manner, rather than the typical flashy previous Senator-Truman-style. This excerpt is reprinted with permission and can be found in its entirety on this Truman Library webpage.

"He had imagination, which damn few businessmen have."

Harry S. Truman, on his good friend Jack Frye

F.A.A. Ownership Documentation of the TWA Lockheed Electra

Lockheed Electra 12A, Serial Number 1229, Registration number NC-18137, NX-18137, N-201GM.
One of three new 12As, purchased August 7, 1937, by Varney Air Transport, which became Continental Airlines, founded by Robert Six. Utilized as a Continental Airlines mini-airliner for 3 years. Sold to Transcontinental and Western Air, on September 12, 1940, used as a TWA "Flight Research Laboratory," and an executive transport, fleet number #240. TWA never used the Electra as a scheduled passenger transport. On December 31, 1941, the Electra was re-registered as NX-18137, extensive static discharge tests were performed with the plane. On February 23, 1942, re-registered back to NC-18137. (This explains photos of the plane with the NX designation.) On March 14, 1945, the Electra was sold to the Texas Company (Texaco.) On August 8, 1946, the current engines were removed and Pratt and Whitney, R-985 engines were installed. Executive Transport Corporation purchased the Electra February 28, 1947. Sold to Don Marshall on January 15, 1948, and then to Continental Oil Corporation on March 6, 1948. Sold to Tulsair Distributors May 16, 1949. FAA re-register as N-18137. On April 27, 1950 the Electra was purchased by Buttram Texahoma Company, until it was sold to Western Supply Company on February 24, 1955. Sold to Walter J. Gardner on January 31, 1956. An Airstair door was installed on the plane on July 6, 1956. The plane later sold to Aerodynamics Incorporated September 12, 1961. Re-sold to Andrew L. Horton on February 27, 1962, then transferred to Dearborn Steel Tubing Company January 2, 1964. On March 26, 1968, the plane was purchased by Gid Miller's Aero Sales Incorporated. At this time, on January 16, 1969, the original Lockheed wheels and tires were removed. Beech 18 wheels and tires were remounted, in the same month, the Electra registration was changed to N-201GM, (to reflect, it is assumed: 201GidMiller) this new registration was not utilized. July 6, 1970, plane damaged and repaired. The Electra was then leased to Harold S. Firth, and Yale Iverson. Later, on November 29, 1973 it went to Pamco Limited. Tragically the plane was damaged again on November 21, 1974, it was repaired and returned to Gid Miller's Aero Sales Incorporated on May 12, 1976. This company was renamed Top Flight Incorporated August 23, 1976. The Electra sold to DCI Corporation, April 2, 1984 and sold again to Doan Helicopter Incorporated May 9, 1986. On December 14, 1992, it was sold to Red Carpet Helicopters, and on March 22, 1993, it was sold to Cenco Corporation. On March 15, 2005, it was sold again to Ed and Connie Bowlin (Bowlin and Associates,) and by the end of June 2005, the plane was sold to Ruth Richter Holden, the daughter of one of TWA's founding fathers.

From the Lockheed expert Rene' J. Francillon, "Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913," we find references to the Lockheed Electra NC-18137, and the Lockheed Lodestar NC-33604. Specifically the author writes, "In spite of having won the competition, the Electra Jr. had limited success as a feeder-airliner, with only six of the ninety Wasp Jr. SB powered Model 12-As (including the prototype) being acquired by US airlines, while c/n 1236 went to Associated Airlines Pty in Australia. One of the six US-registered feeder-liners, which as NC18137 (c/n1229) had been delivered in August 1937 to Varney Air Transport, was later used briefly by TWA as a high-altitude and weather research aircraft until replaced by a Lockheed 18. Two other model 12A's were acquired by British Airways but as detailed later, this airline purchase was a front for the activities of Sidney Cotton." Please note: Varney Air Transport became Continental Airlines, in 1937.

Lockheed Electra 12A, serial number 1229, was originally purchased August 7, 1937 by the newly formed Continental Airlines, formerly Varney Speed Lanes (Lines.) Jack Frye and TWA purchased the plane on September 12, 1940. Later they sold the plane to the Texas Company, (Texaco Oil Company) March 14, 1945. (This after Jack replaced it with his Lockheed Lodestar NC-33604.) It is important to note between December 31, 1941, and February 23, 1942, the Electra was re-registered by TWA as NX-18137, for static discharge tests. TWA Executive Vice-President, Paul E. Richter Jr., personally flew to Denver, met with Bob Six, the owner of Continental Airlines, and flew the plane back to Kansas City. Jack and Bob were close friends and business partners, so much so that in about 1956, Bob called Jack and told him that Continental was in need new planes to add to its fleet. He asked Jack personally to go to London and find a new transport for Continental. Jack went with his then wife, Nevada, and toured many of the airplane manufacturers in Europe, (per Jack's cousin.) I guess you could say that Jack returned the favor of Bob selling him the Electra 15 years earlier, a plane which was always one of Jack's favorites.

The T.W.A. Lockheed Electra NC-18137

executive plane throughout the years!

The Electra as shown below, courtesy of Dick Phillips, renowned Warbird photographer, is Jack Frye's Lockheed Electra executive plane. Captured at Newark, New Jersey on February 28, 1965. The Electra has been repainted beautifully and appears in prime condition. It seems the only reminder of its past association with TWA is the registration number prominently displayed on its side, N18137.

So few images are available of the plane throughout the years. Hauntingly this one just happens to show the Newark TWA terminal in the background. Coincidence, or a plane refusing to be disconnected from its glorious past with Jack Frye?

On March 11, 1988 the TWA Electra was captured again, this time at the T.I.C.O. Air Show in Titusville, Florida. Completely stripped, polished and restored, the plane is a closer reflection to TWA Electra #240. Registration number N-18137 appears on the tail. Sedona Legend owns the original 25 ASA slide of this image. Courtesy of Dick Phillips.

Below the Lockheed Electra, several years later,
when owned by Connie and Ed Bowlin.
The plane still polished to a mirror finish,
appears very much as it would have in its TWA years.

Current photos of the Lockheed Electra 12A NC-18137 as it appears today can be found here.

Vintage FAA Airplane Registration Codes- NC (National Standard)
NR (National Restricted) NL (National Limited) NX (National Experimental) N- meaning United States Registry.

After the Lockheed Electra and Lodestar left the Transcontinental and Western Air fleet, what happened to the famous planes, did they retain their celebrity "V.I.P." status? The answer to this query has been resolved for both Lockheeds. Information is derived from many published sources, however, most invaluable is a work by Peter Marson, called "The Lockheed Twins."

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