Private Executive Plane of Jack Frye-
September of 1940 to December of 1944
photographer) Robby Robinson- fall of '42
Fleet #240, C/N 1229
Twin engine- (2) 450 H.P. Pratt and Whitney powerplants.
Cruise speed better than 200 m.p.h. (210 m.p.h. @ 7000 feet) as noted on a Frye flight.
Retrofitted by either Lockheed Aircraft or TWA- first two passenger seats removed,
in this space, 2 auxiliary (48) gallon fuel tanks were mounted.
Increased fuel load- 298 gallons- resulting in “a safe 6-hours of flight time."
This made it possible for President Frye and passengers to fly non-stop
from Kansas City to Washington D.C. and Kansas City to Winslow, AZ.
Passenger capacity was reduced from 6 to 4. (2 pilots and 4 passengers)
the only Transcontinental and Western Air personnel qualified
and officially trained to operate TWA Lockheed 12A, NC18137, were
TWA President: Jack Frye
TWA Captain: W. R. “Bill" Hendenquist
TWA Division Chief Pilot: Mr. Roby
TWA Frye Pilot: Robbie Robinson
Please note-
Paul Richter also flew the 12A primarily at its onset with TWA. This information was not mentioned by Robinson but was likely unknown to him because Paul Richter was serving in the war overseas and on leave from TWA while Robby was employed there.
"To Robby, our friend and pilot, with best wishes,
Helen and Jack Frye, 1944."
(NC-18137) to marry Mrs. Vanderbilt on January 1, 1941. The Fryes later departed on the Lockheed 12A to California and Florida on their honeymoon!
Dear Mom-
The story is this, I have passed the physical as I told Ted, (brother of Russell) and I start to work for TWA on the 5th of January, but before they will pay me for my time, I have to fulfill all of their requirements. That means that I have to have my instrument rating. They made arrangements with the operator to complete my time, at my expense of course…. I have a very nice apartment now. It costs me $35.00 per month with everything furnished but the food. The address in case you haven’t already got it, is “1004 Locust Street, Apt. 412, Kansas City, Missouri. It is just one block from the YMCA. Happy New Year to all. Love, Bob
Dear Mrs. Robinson and Ted -
Before Bob left, we agreed that the most economical thing to do would be
for me to wait until he had finished his training and he had been assigned a definite base. But, gee, I got five airmail letters and three telegrams telling me he was too lonesome to do things right and for me to come immediately - so I’m on my way- I expect he has written to you and told you his plans-, but here’s what news I’ve received so far anyway-
1. Passed physical examination (Really stiff) - declared in A1 condition. (weighed 180lbs before he left)
2. Completing practice on his instrument rating now - trying to get it finished by Jan. 5th
3. Then he starts training in the TWA school Jan 5th, instrument rating or no instrument rating, by that time his pay will start in full on that date, but if not his pay will start as soon as he obtains it.
4. The training will last from 4 to 6 weeks - Then he will be put on a run for 2 weeks - after which he’ll be assigned a base for 1 year - Signed, Lois
Dear Dad-
Perhaps this well help to enlighten you on my situation here. I was one of
twelve men to take the entrance physical which lasted almost three and 1/2 hours (these twelve were selected from six hundred applicants). I was one of the four that passed the physical and one of the two that passed it without a reexamination. We started classes at nine, Monday the fifth. there are four in the class and we were told today that we are to be the last class for the duration of the war unless the government gives the airlines another bunch of new ships. As yet I have not completed my instrument rating the weather has been too cold to practice, as the ship is an open plane. TWA has made arrangements with some insurance company for their employees, which enables them for a small monthly payment, for us it would be about five or six dollars, to cover themselves and their families with life insurance, (1500.00 each) and also hospitalization and compensation at the rate of $25.00 per week while laid up. I talked to one fellow who had had an opportunity to use his and he said he would not be without it now. The Co. also paid him his regular wages while he was laid up. The more I become acquainted with this company the more I wonder why I even considered United at all.
Hilton Hotel, Albuquerque, N.M.
Dear Ted-
I am in Albuquerque, New Mexico, arrived here Monday at 7 AM, and as there has been a bunch of Captains out here, they keep bumping me off and taking return trips to K.C. May go back tonight if no one else comes along. Bob
Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. National Airport, Washington, D.C.
Dear Mom, Dad, Peg & Ted-
Look where I am! Yes, Washington D.C. I came here as copilot to Jack
Frye, President of T.W.A. I can better understand what you meant about Washington now Dad. What a “High jinking joint” this is. If it weren’t the Capital of parasites and procrastinators, it would be a very beautiful place. I have not been able to get around much as I must be ready to go when ever Mr. Frye is ready to go. We are using his ship, a Lockheed 12, a 8 place twin engine plane that cruises better than 200 m.p.h. It took us just 4 hrs and 25 minutes to get here from K.C.
Dear Dad and Mom-
I am very, very busy now and I am not at home very much. The reason is
that I am in the process of getting my Airline Pilots rating. I made another trip to
Washington D.C. with Mr. Frye, the 21st to the 30th of last month, and on the way back we stayed over night in St. Louis. While eating breakfast the next morning he said that I was to tell Mr. Roby our Div. Chief Pilot, that I was to be checked out in the Lockheed. When I spoke to the C.A.A. inspector about his going with us and giving me a H.P. and Multi-Engine rating instead that it would only take ten or fifteen minutes longer, so I spoke to the Chief Pilot, Mr. Rice, and he said that he could see no reason why I shouldn’t . At any rate I now have passed the written examination (missed but one quest) and have but the flight test left to take. All of this does not make me a Captain any sooner, but it does place me in a much better position to learn more, fly more, and who knows what else. I will also have the distinction of being the only First Officer with an Airline Rating and also the only one checked out in the Lockheed. I will also be qualified to act as first pilot in the Lockheed in case we should get any charter flights in it. There are only three pilots qualified in the Lockheed now, Mr. Frye, Mr. Roby, and on of our Captains, Mr. Hedinquist. Well, I guess that is enough of that for this time.
Dear Mom and Dad-
I almost called you up from Winslow last Sunday, but as I was financially
embarrassed, and did not feel you would appreciate another collect call. I left here last Thursday on 1 1/2 hours notice with Mr. Frye. We flew from KC to AQ to WO (Kansas City-Amarillo-Winslow) stayed that night there and the next morning we went to his ranch (about 5000 acres including Gov. summer range) which is about 25 mi. East of Cottonwood, Arizona, on Oak Creek. There is a pretty fair field at Cottonwood, that is where we landed After we unloaded I stayed in WO until Monday night I got a
phone call from Phoenix, they had driven down in their car, so Tuesday morning I flew down there and picked them up and then we went to El Paso Texas. We stayed all night there and then we returned her to KC. I guess I have already told you, but the plane is a Lockheed model 12-A, it has two Pratt & Whitney 450 H.P. engines, cruises at 210 m.p.h. at 7000 ft.
Dear Mom, Dad Peg & Ted-
Look where I have been now! Last Monday (11-30-42) Mr. Frye called me and
told me we were leaving the first thing Tuesday morning for Corpus Christi Texas. We were to go by way of Oklahoma City, Okla. and pick up three congressmen. He was taking them hunting on the King Ranch. That is how I happen to have this stationary (White Plaza Hotel). I stayed there while they hunted and took care of the ship and kept one eye on the weather, he has a habit of calling and wanting to know what it is like when you least expect him to, and I try to always be one jump ahead of him they were ready to come back Friday evening but the weather was not ready to let us, so we didn't get back here till Monday night.
Dear Mom-
Well I haven’t gotten your letter off yet so will scratch a few lines more. Which is
the hardest to read, this or my jumbled typing? Time is creeping up on me, so will send you the Christmas cards, and will you please address them and send them on for us? Thank you. To understand the small pictures and what is written on the back of them, first place them in numbered order from left to right face down, and by reading across I think you can make it out. They are the contact prints from 35 mm. film. I will have some larger pictures of same and others to send pretty soon if I get time to get them made up. If the weather permits and we don’t go somewhere I am supposed to take my rating flight test in Mr. Frye’s Lockheed Monday. Then I am to start working in the engine shop whenever I am in Kansas City and get my engine mechanics license. That
will enable me to check the engine on our ship when we are away from regular TWA places. I am also working on a new set of operating charts and check list for Mr. Frye’s plane, at the request of the Chief Pilots Office.
"Here is a snap of Mr. Frye's plane- it only holds six people, but it cruises at 210 m.p.h. and can stay up for 6 hr. cont., at an average speed of 200- that would be 1200 miles. I really love it, and it feels good to have my pilots license now reading- Single & Multi-Engine- Land & Sea- 0-1200 h.p. Flight Instructor and Instrument Ratings- Love Bob" (Caption as it appears on card above. When Bob states 6 people, he meant- 2 pilots/4 passengers, this per his notation above on the planes configuration.)
Dear Mom, Dad & Ted-
Well - what a day. Got up at 6:30 AM and went to the field to check my mail box,
returning to town for an appointment with the Company Doctor for my pre- Captain physical at 9:00 AM. Waited around in the Dr.'s office till 10:00. Then undressed for x-rays. About 5 minutes later, Mr. Frye called and wanted me to go with him to Twitty Texas, leaving KC at 11:30 AM. Well did I jump. I got dressed, called Lois to have my stuff ready and ran out and jumped on the bus for home, took a cab from bus to house, then had him wait while I ran in and changed my clothes and grabbed my stuff. Then off to the airport. Arrived there at 11:00AM and rushed in and told the mechanics to get the plane ready.
What a job they had, it was covered with ice. They had to bring it in the hangar and wash it with hot water and then dry it off with rags. In the meantime I checked the weather, made out a flight plan and got my Company Release. Well I finally was ready to go by 11:40 AM and also Mr. Frye pulled up just then. So out to the ship to get loaded and warmed up the engines. We finally got off KC at 12:45. There were so many ships to go out all at the same time, and the ceiling was only 1500 feet so they made us all have 10 minute intervals between departure times. Balance of trip was very uneventful, arrived in Twitty, Texas at 2:59 PM, deposited his folks and their baggage etc. and took off at 3:11 PM arrived back in Kansas City at 5:28 PM. On the way back, he informed me that we would be leaving for Charleston, W. Virginia tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) then to Washington D.C. for a couple of days so I spent the next two hours turning in flight data and telling the mechanics what I wanted done to the ship, etc. Then home---
(San Francisco)
Dear Mom-
Well I am still here. Mr. Frye left word for me to phone him at the St. Francis
Hotel at 11:00 PM and when I did he wasn’t there, so I am waiting until 11:30PM then I will try again.
P.S. Couldn’t get in touch with Mr. Frye at 11:00 pm as instructed so am at the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco now, arrived here at 1:00 AM 1-9-43 . Bob
Dear Mom & Peg-
Well I am home, arrived here Wednesday night at 6:19 PMC. It was quite a trip,
Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Winslow, Cottonwood, Boulder City, Las Vegas, Fresno, San Francisco, Oakland, Davis, San Francisco, Boulder City, Winslow, Tucson, El Paso, and Kansas City. I was certainly glad to get to see all of you, even though it was just for a short time. When I arrived home, Lois informed me that they had started a new Captain’s class and I was in it. Thursday, I had to get up real early and go to the airport. There were a lot of things that had to be done on the Lockheed, that I had to take care of before I went to class. Class started at 9:00 AM, so I hurried around to find out what I had missed. It turned out that I knew everything they had the first three days, so all was well. At last I am started on the way to being a Captain, just one year after going to work for TWA (Thanks to the war of course). Friday, Mr. Frye’s secretary called me to tell me to get ready to go to Washington D.C. I told her that I was in Captain’s Class.
All these images are from late 1942 or early 1943. Courtesy of Russell (Robby) Robinson
Well anyway, when Mr. Frye found out, he called the Chief Pilots Office, and requested that I be excused from class for the trip and be allowed to make it up on our return. They then called me and told me that it was OK with them and it was up to me what I did. So I called him and asked him how long we expected to be gone. When he told me ten days to two weeks, I told him the class would be over in two to three weeks, and it might be rather difficult to dig the necessary material out with the aid of class discussion. He then said he guessed I was right, that I had better stay in school. He then asked me to select another First Officer and familiarize him with the plane and the nature of the job, also to take a look at the weather and let him know what the situation was. So it ended up that I planned the entire flight, made out the flight plan and sent them on their way. His present plans are for me to continue flying with him after I get through school. But because of the war I may not be allowed to. I guess I will just have to wait and see how it all turns out.
I purchased a jig saw and a small metal lathe in El Paso to go with my saw and motor. Mr. Frye has told me to make a wind tunnel model of my plane design and set of drawings. He is going to see what Mr. Hughes thinks of it. He likes what I have told him. So, as you see, there is no cause for my having any idle time on my hands.
Dear Mom, Dad & Peg-
Well I guess you are home now Dad. I would like very much to hear how things
went. As you probably know by now I did not go to Washington D.C. When we arrived back here the evening of the 13th, Lois informed me that I was in Captains School, so there I have been ever since. We are supposed to complete the ground school work about the middle of next week. The comes about 30 or 40 hrs of Transition in DC-3 equipment followed by 70 hrs of line checks. Line checks are when you fly with a check pilot as acting captain, and he gives you training in the duties of captain while you fly the regular passenger scheduled flight from Kansas City to New York. When that is completed, you take your flight test for Airline rating, and you are a full-fledged Captain. They seem to feel we will be going right through, and be all finished up by April. I for one certainly hope so. Well the Company Dr. has pronounced me as physically sound. I completed my annual company physical taking 1 1/2 days the 21st and 22nd. Boy it is some exam. They test your heart, lungs, breathing, blood pressure, hearing, take blood samples and type your blood, they feed you barium and with the fluoroscope watch it go through you. Altogether they took 6 large x-ray pictures and full mouth teeth x-rays. This was followed by a very complete eye test. And he couldn’t find anything wrong with me.
Dear Mom, Dad, Aunt Peg-
Well things are beginning to happen. A meeting was called yesterday afternoon of all student Captain (27 of us). It seems that the Company doe not have a plane available to give us one DC-3 transition in. the army has allotted a large training program to us to train new Army pilots to fly DC-3’s. So -- the results are they expect to give us one transition in the Army planes, then we will work as instructors until we are needed as Captains on the regular passenger and cargo runs. By so doing we will get 3 or 4 months experience as first pilots on DC-3 equipment. When it comes to line checks, we will be able to put all our attention to learning the procedures, as we will be thoroughly familiar with the airplanes and weather flying. I personally am very much for it. I believe one learns a lot more about an airplane teaching some one to fly in it, than any other way. These boys they expect us to teach have about 150 to 200 hrs in single engine planes. We are supposed to give them 25 hrs covering take offs and landing, instrument flying and single engine emergency procedures.
As I told you in my last letter, we completed Captains school Tuesday noon and are now waiting for our turn for transition. There present plans, as expressed today, are for us to start the 15th, and be completed by the first. Then we are to instruct Army pilots who have just graduated from Randolph Field and who have just received their commissions as 2N Lts. They each have between 150 and 200 hours of flying time (Dual and Solo). It will be no picnic that is certain, as they are a bunch of cocky, self-centered, and know-it-alls. We are supposed to make DC-3 first pilots out them in 25 hrs. This is twice as bad as CPT they were at least confined to small planes.
Dear Mom, Dad, & Peg-
Well I am still doing nothing waiting for my DC-3 transition. The way it looks now, it will be the 1st of March or later before I even start. I haven’t even flown a plane since January 13th, when I was with Frye. One month and I am about to go nuts. Times like this make me wish I was in the Army. I could have gotten a Capt. commission a while back too. There is so darned much flying to be done, it is a crime that several hundred pilots should be sitting around idle…. Well I guess there is nothing else to till this time. If something doesn’t turn up pretty soon I’m going to do some investigating. Mr. Frye left for Washington D.C. January 15th and hasn’t returned yet. As soon as he does I am going to talk to him about the way things are going.
Dear Dad-
Thanks an awful lot for your letter and offer of help. I do not believe it is going to
be necessary for me to get a car. The instructing proposition has blown up. First, the Army did not give us as many students as they said they would; second the junior captains and reserve captains raised a big fuss about it, and, third, the Airline Pilots Ass. objected very strongly. So - now my chances of getting any DC-3 transition are very slim. It is pretty discouraging. If it wasn’t for Lois, I would be in the Army. The way I feel, that is just where I want to go. There I would not have to worry about not getting any flying, and I would also be getting darn good pay. I believe that if one doesn’t make and save anything now during the war, he is going to be in very bad shape after the War. Also I would feel that I was contributing some real help to getting this war over with. I haven’t been up in an airplane since the 13th of January, if I don’t fly soon I will go nuts. And they say there are no further prospects of my being checked out this year. Well that is enough about my woe’s, I suppose the disappointment has intensified the darkness of the situation.
Dear Dad, Mom, Peg & Ted-
I don’t know if you have written since the first of this month or not, a I left KC the
morning of the 3rd for Washington D.C., and I am still here. Mr. Frye expected to be here only a week, but three have gone by, and we are still here. I spent the first two weeks studying for the written exam for my Airplane and Engine Mechanics License. Boy were they tough, I think I passed most of it, but not all. They are each divided into 5 parts, with a total of 300 questions per exam. At least I know exactly what they expect now, which is more than I did before. Well we should be going home pretty soon, I will write a real letter when I get there. right now I have to do something for Mr. Frye, so will close. Hello to all and keep well. Mrs. Frye spoke of going to the west coast soon after we get back to KC, so maybe I will be able to see you all. Who knows? Love, Bob
Dear Mom-
I am sorry I bothered you, but here is the situation. I have been away 4 weeks
now here in Washington. Although I haven’t done a great deal it has been very important that I stay here. I called Lois on the phone last week, and Beth had fallen and split the scalp on the back of her head necessitating taking her to the hospital and several stitches had to be taken. Lois said everything was now getting along OK. I didn’t hear for several days, so yesterday I called again, and infection had set in and she had had Beth to the hospital every day for a week, and they were having to drain it. The doctor said it wasn’t necessary to keep her in the hospital, but Lois had to take her down everyday. About half way through this call Lois started crying and I am afraid that everything plus my being away so long plus a homesickness she has had for you and her folks plus the fact that it is only two months till the baby is expected was beginning to tell on her. I am afraid she will overdo and hurt herself or the baby. She is a lot like you Mom, she doesn’t complain till she drops and everyone can see that she is done up. She told me the worst was over and not to worry, but I know she hasn’t been able to get help. Peg I am afraid would only make matters worse, much as her intentions might be good. So far no financial help needed I don’t know when I will return it may be Tuesday, or 2 weeks yet, I am acting as Mr. Frye’s assistant at the present time. Love, Bob
Dear Mom-
Received your letter this evening and was very glad to get it. I did not expect you
to be able or even consider your taking the train. I knew you could make the plane out of San Francisco to Boulder City, and so on, to Kansas City, OK. It is not hard to get from San Francisco to Kansas City, but it is very difficult to go from Kansas City to Boulder City. If it becomes necessary to take Beth to California while Lois is in the hospital, Mrs. Frye said we could take her out in the Lockheed. The thing that worries me is that I am away so much, and Lois is really very much along. All of one relations are out in California. The few that are in Kansas are or couldn’t be of any help in an emergency. After all Eleanor has John’s folks near by and other friends besides. It isn’t that I begrudge her any it is just that I must be away a lot, or I won’t have a job, and we have absolutely no one to call on but our folks, and they are so very far away.
health’s sake. They have had more colds and other things here than all the rest of the time put together. Well Mom I hope to see you soon. Who knows, I may be in the Army very soon, that is another good reason for wanting Lois & Beth better taken care of, mentally as well as physically. In Lois’s condition, I am afraid it would be very hard on her. At this time of all times. I am not trying to scare anyone, but I am just the right age, and I am in a position to know more about what is going on regarding such than you have any idea. After all Mr. Frye hasn’t been spending every day all day for a week in conference with such men as General Arnold, Marshall, and George (Harold Lee George) for nothing. Well keep well, and do something with that ranch for heaven’s sake. If Uncle Harrison wants it kept, why doesn’t he do something about it? Love to all, Bob
Dear Dad and Mom-
I am home again for awhile. We left Washington Saturday April 3rd at 3:47 PME. Mr. Frye had an appointment with a man in St. Louis for Monday morning, but Mrs. Frye was afraid if we waited in Washington a bit longer, something would come up and keep us there. Mr. Frye had worked so hard and such long hours, he had made himself sick. The doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him except an excessive nervous strain. To make a long story short, we went from Washington to Nashville Tennessee where we stayed Saturday night as the guests of the Vultee Aircraft Corporation’s owner. Sunday morning he took me to the factory where they are building dive bombers for the British and U.S. Army.
Dear Mom & Dad-
You can bet it was a very pleasant surprise to hear from you on the phone the
other night. Lois and Beth got off OK and arrived sometime Friday evening. I got a telegram saying they arrived OK, but no letters yet. Received your letter from Portland today. Tell Ted he could write me a letter, that I would like very much to hear from him. Well I am finally getting on toward checking out as a captain. I have 7 ¼ hrs out of the 12 hours DC-3 transition we receive, and then comes line checks. They are supposed to start around the first of May. The really tough part is just getting started. Right now I am trying to master the DC-3 under all conditions, single engine etc.
Dear Mom & Dad-
How’s things? This has been a pretty lonely day for me. It was raining when I
woke up this AM, it was instrument weather so I stayed home and cleaned up the house. Did I tell you I had joined the Civil Air Patrol. I am a 2n Lt., and I have charge of light training. Next am to receive the rank of 1st Lt. and Master pilot rating, the highest there is. We wear regular army uniforms and insignias except for red shoulder straps and silver instead of gold ornaments. We are treated as regular Army personnel in all cases. It is pretty good too, for if any of us were to be called by draft boards, we can go on active duty with the rank and pay we hold in CAP. Yet we cannot be called except by our draft board.
Dear Dad and Mom-
My flying with Mr. Frye is costing me a lot right now. I came up for change from apprentice to regular member of the Airline Pilots Assoc., and because of my flying with Mr. Frye it was refused, or in other words I was kicked out. That is another good reason why I want to get away from here. I applied to Douglas Aircraft Company for a job as engineering test pilot provided it was permanent, both now and after the war, and I am waiting to hear from them. I have been reclassified 3A3 by the Draft Board. Well write as often as you can and want to. I more than welcome letters now. Love Bob
Dear Mom and Dad-
I am flying schedules again now. Flying into New York that is, until I start line
checks. I will very likely not fly with Mr. Frye any more. It has caused me no end of trouble. The whole thing is this - Some of our pilots are very jealous of the fact that I flew with Mr. Frye and because he let me fly his ship. As a result I have been refused regular membership in the Air Line Pilots Ass. or in other words the Air Line Pilots Union. The result of that are that the check pilots will not OK anyone to Captains status unless they are members of the ALPA, as I am not my chances of every becoming a Captain are very slim, about one in one-hundred. I am going to try for it anyway and also I am going to try and straighten out the misunderstanding those jealous pilots have..... Well we leave tomorrow for KC at 11:00 AME, so guess I will close for this time. Bob
Dear Mom & Dad-
Just a line to say hellow, and tell you I haven’t forgotten you. I have been terribly busy. I have been operating an Aircraft Repair Shop as well as my CAP activities and TWA. I am going to try and take my vacation next month and I'll be out to see you if I do. My troubles at TWA (ALPA) are coming to a head, and the results may be that I will leave TWA. The ALPA is bringing pressure to bear on all the Captains, causing them to refuse to fly with me, and to make it impossible for me to check out as Captain. I was supposed to have started line checking the first of this week, but the check pilot wouldn’t accept me. The Chief Pilots Office is taking the matter up with the Vice-President and
the Company Lowers are also working on the matter. They are supposed to have some sort of an answer, or information for me the middle of this next week. It is just another case of a “Dam” union.
Dear Mom and Dad-
Received a card from Ted yesterday, from Florida. I was certainly happy and surprised to get it. Well, I went to Mr. Frye about this ALPA thing and he spoke to the V.P. Mr. Collings. I also contacted Mr. George Rice, our Chief Pilot. I don’t know exactly what the outcome was, but at any rate I was told I would start my line checks upon my return from this flight. He told me it would be a very rough go, but they were behind me. I am certain Mr. Frye had a lot to do with it.
Dear Dad and Mom-
I am line checking now. I expect to make three trips, (30 hrs) and then have 90
days to study in, then go back and make four more round trips (40 hrs). I have it second hand that the biggest reason for my being refused by the ALPA, is that Mr. Frye has started things in the Company towards placing me in some sort of a job as soon, or soon after I have checked out and I am a Captain. I don’t believe this is all just idle rumor, as Mr. Collings (our vice-pres.) and the Chief Pilots Office are trying to help straighten this ALPA thing out, and also, the Captain who is giving me my line checks, made this remark yesterday. “The Chief Pilot’s Office is bending over backwards to see that you get checked out for some reason.”
Dear Mom & Dad-
Well things are going along very smoothly now. I hope they continue to do so. Day before yesterday, Sunday, the dispatch office called up and told me to come down right away and test fly the Lockheed. Mr. Frye had requested that I do it for him. Mr. Roby, as chief pilot, had test flown it and missed a lot of things, so he told them to get me after that. I contacted the powers that be in the ALPA and received their OK before I went to the field though. One of the head men of the ALPA, that gave me a lot of trouble has gone to the ICD, so I won’t have him to fight any longer. I have hopes of getting that situation all straightened up soon.
Dear Dad & Mom-
I am still trying to get the ALPA business straightened out. I saw the international president in Chicago, October 28th, and I am now waiting to hear from him. I am trying to get that straightened out before I do any more line checks, the check pilots just won’t pass me unless I do, and unless that is straightened out or I quit, TWA will release me. Mr. Frye has, I find, ordered the Chief Pilots Office to see to it that I am checked out to Captain. He did this with best intentions, but it has only aggravated the situation. If I leave TWA I am going to try to get a job as test pilot with North American here.
Dear Mom and Dad-
I am still up in the air as to the outcome of my mix up with the Airline Pilots Association. As I told you I went to see the President of the ALPA International while I was in Chicago last week. He expected to be in Kansas City and said he would see if he couldn’t straighten the mess out this week, but I haven’t heard from him yet, so don’t know what is going to happen. I have at least succeeded in getting any further line checks postponed until I get the ALPA situation settled. I am going to New York on a flight with the Chairman of the KC chapter of the ALPA. I hope to be able to possibly get some of this straightened out.
Dear Mom & Dad-
Just a note. Received Dad’s letter and we were certainly glad to get it.
I am more than busy at the present time with a possible change coming up. The
Army has discovered that TWA has too many pilots, and my draft classification has been changed from 3A3 to 3A and will be changed to 2B very shortly. There has been no change in ALPA yet and I am just here, no more live checks for a while. Will write and keep you as up to date as I am myself. I may have the opportunity to end the Air Corps as a multi-engine instructor but know very little about it as yet (military leave from TWA). All are OK here, Love Bob
Dear Dad and Mom-
I am going to attempt to put into words what I am now doing. My progress with
the ALPA has been exactly zero in the last eight months. I completed the 90 day set back I had in line checks and made one more line check flight. Upon the completion of that I could see that it was useless to attempt anymore until I had the ALPA thing all straightened out. I am told that a complicating factor has been the fact that Mr. Frye issued orders to the Chief Pilot to see to it that I was checked out to Captain. Now he was trying to prevent an unfair situation, but it had a reverse action. To put it in the words of one of the Captains who is on my side in this thing “It made me the fair-haired boy in the Company.” Added to all of this there is now a lot of agitation over the over supply of pilots that TWA has.
Dear Dad and Mom-
Last night Captain Voights, ALPA Chairman, and head man of the group of
four who have prevented me from becoming an ALPA regular member and who have told me that I will not be checked out to Captain called. I had sent him word that I wished a written statement giving their reasons for refusing me regular membership. He called to inform me that they would not give me such a statement. He explained that their reasons were too personal and that not to feel too bad. He went on to say that this is a local situation and that it is so set up that it only affects me as a pilot with TWA and that it will in no way prevent me from working for any other airline. He said not to worry about a job, that the ALPA group and the Chief Pilot, Mr. Rice, would see to it that I got another job. That they would contact various organizations regarding the matter for me. My reason for asking for such a letter was that I knew they would either do as they have or else have such ridiculous reasons that it would prove it to be a farce. My present plans are to contact Mr. Roby and Mr. Rice of the Chief Pilots Office, and tell them that I am going to resign and why, then talk with Mr. Frye and tell him why I am leaving and what I am looking for in a job. Then if nothing turns up, I am going to go to Washington D.C. and talk with the Army there.
Jack Frye's Private Executive Pilot
Lockheed 12A, registration number: NC18137
Notation on passengers:
Jack Frye’s passengers on his private Lockheeds were not always notated, however they often included Helen Frye, who a majority of the time traveled with her husband, as well, often Jack would offer rides to anyone who was going his way, whether it be corporate associates, TWA flight personnel, United States enlisted service men, as found on standby at Transcontinental and Western Air terminals.
This TWA Lockheed 12A was not used by any other parties within TWA except with Jack Frye’s permission. The 12A was Jack’s “personal” executive transport and always designated and maintained to that end, a fact which is well-documented. The plane was also used occasionally as a TWA Flight Research Laboratory for complicated flight tests.
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers unknown
MCI (KC-Kansas City) to DCA (WA-Washington D.C.) flight time 4 hours 25 minutes
DCA to MCI
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers unknown
MCI to DCA
October 30, 1942
DCA to STL (St Louis) to MCI
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers Helen Frye
MCI to AMA- AO (Amarillo)- or ABQ- AQ (Albuquerque) to (WO) INW
November 19, 1942
INW (Winslow) (Frye Sunshine Ranch) to Verde Valley Airport (Frye Deer Lick Ranch)
Landed at Semi-Private Frye Airstrip (VVA)
November 19, 1942
Crew: Robinson
Verde Valley Airport (VVA) to INW
Crew: Robinson
INW to PHX (Phoenix Sky Harbor)
Crew; Frye/Robinson, passengers Helen Frye
PHX to ELP (El Paso-- Standard Airport) founded by Jack Frye, as President of Standard Airlines/Aero Corporation, (predecessor of Transcontinental and Western Air)
November 25, 1942
ELP to MCI
MCI to OKC (Oklahoma City)
Crew Frye/Robinson
OKC to CRP (Corpus Christi)
Crew Frye/Robinson,
Passengers: Congressmen; John J. Hardin, Dan Tankersley, Jack Nichols
Destination: King Ranch for hunting trip
December 7, 1942 (same passengers)
Return flight: CRP to OKC to MCI
Crew: Frye/Robinson
(Ship iced over, pulled into TWA hangar, sprayed with hot water and dried)
Engines started at 11:40 a.m.- departure delayed to 12:45 a.m. (ceiling 1500 feet)
Crew: Frye/Robinson, Passengers-- Jack Frye’s family, (father and stepmother)
MCI to Twitty, Texas (arrival 2:59 p.m. time on the ground: 12 minutes)
Twitty to MCI (departure- 3:11 p.m.) (arrival KC at 5:28 p.m.)
(Twitty was near the Wheeler, TX., location of the Frye Ranch in the Texas Panhandle)
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers Helen Frye
MCI to CRW (Charleston, West Virginia) possibly to drop Helen or leave Christmas packages for her family
Unknown Date
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers- Helen Frye?
CRW to DCA
DCA to MCI
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers Helen Frye and others
MCI to SFN (Santa Fe) to ABQ to INW to Cottonwood Frye Airstrip to BLD (Boulder City TWA Terminal and Las Vegas) to FAT (Fresno) to SFO (San Francisco) to OAK (Oakland) to Davis, CA. to SFO to BLD to INW to TUC (Tucson) to ELP to MCI.
Arrival MCI (January 13, 1943, 6:19 p.m.)
Crew: Frye/Unknown First Officer
MCI to DCA
(at least 10-14 day layover)
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers unknown, likely Helen Frye
MCI to DCA
April 3, 1943
Departure time- 3:47 p.m.
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers Helen Frye
DCA to BNA
Departure time- Sunday Afternoon
Crew: Frye/Robinson passengers Helen Frye
BNA to STL
April 5, 1943
Arrival KC 2:00 p.m.
STL to MCI
Crew: Frye/Robinson, passengers Helen Frye
members converted into story form by myself, with historical facts interjected as they would been connected with the event. I think it is likely a myth that all Howard ever drank was pints of bottled milk. Also quite interestingly, the last person Jack met with the night he was killed by a drunk driver in Tucson, AZ., February 1959, was H. Hughes.)
To Whom It May Concern:
Mr. Russell Robinson, formerly employed by Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc., has applied for admission into the Army Air Corps, and I should like to offer the following information concerning his qualifications and ability.
I fly a Lockheed 12 airplane in my work as President of Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc., and for a period of approximately one year Mr. Robinson flew with me as co-pilot. During this time I had the opportunity to observe him closely and found him to be a very conscientious, efficient and hard working young man. He is careful, conservative and thorough. On several occasions he flew the Lockheed 12 alone, landed on fields off our regular line, and had no trouble in handling the plane.
In addition to the experience which he had with me in the Lockheed, Mr. Robinson has had considerable flying time as first officer on our scheduled flights, flying DC-3 equipment.
It is my opinion that Mr. Robinson’s flying experience would be of value in the military service and I hope that his application for admission to the Army Air Corps will be favorability considered.
Very Truly Yours,
Jack Frye
Jack Frye, President
Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.
Luck and Success-
from Mrs. Helen Frye
Dear Robby:
It was nice to get your letter and to learn that you are going to be commissioned as an ensign soon. I was sorry for what happened and that you did not remain with the company, but I am sure you will be happier where you are more appreciated. I guess you know that Mr. Frye and I were always well pleased with your work.
The Constellation Flight was quite a drain on me and I, like you, would have liked nothing better than to have been along. I am glad that it’s over with; it’s been on my mind for five years. Those maiden flights always cause some anxiety.
You must have forgotten to put the snapshots of your children in your letter. I know they must be darling youngsters. They will be a lot of company for your wife when you are away.
Mr. Frye is looking for a snapshot of us and if he has no snapshot you will know we are just out of pictures. I have been trying -- or rather, hoping that we would have time to make up some more from the many negatives we have on hand.
He found one!
Thanks for your nice letter. Drop us a card once in the while-
With our very best wishes, and hoping you all the luck and success in the world-
Helen Frye
Monday we start all day ground school 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, which lasts for two weeks, then we have about two or three weeks of instrument flying and it is supposed to be over. The class ahead of us all got their orders yesterday, Hawaii. Lord only knows where we will go. I don’t know if I told you or not, but here goes. I met a Col. Stirling, a recently - last 6 months - retired Army Calvary Col. He is related to the Klebergs of the King Ranch. He has the use of a 40 ft. sailboat belonging to Congressman Kleberg. (one of Mr. Frye’s party the time I came down here with them) I happened to be present when he needed some help with the boat one day, so when I got it repaired we all, (Lois, Beth, Judy and I) went for a 2 hour sail in Corpus Christi Bay. He has asked us to go several more times, but we have been unable to do so again yet. It is the largest sailing yacht in C.C.
Bob has done so well with the letter writing that I’ve gotten almost lazy about it. However, he has been real busy lately, and I don’t know whether he’s written recently or not so maybe I’d better get back into practice. This is Bob’s last week and it is a tough one for him - examinations - flight tests etc. Perhaps Bob has told you, but the personnel department of the air transport service here has put in a request to Washington to have Bob kept here as a pilot for them. His work would be similar to that of flying with Jack Frye - that is to transport the high officials of this base around. He would be based here a year. We think it would be swell and surely hope he gets it. His orders should come any time now. We have our fingers crossed.
A little relief at last. Tomorrow will complete our normal period of training and we will have a let up for a while. All of our group, except me, is going to the Pacific area, either based in South Pacific or West Coast flying out there. My assignment is to the VM Unit here at Corpus Christi. I will be flying DC-3, Lockheed, Beechcraft, Grumman amphibian, and Howards. VM means a unit of Transport Service of the Navy that transports Naval Officer personnel. In other words I will be doing just what I was for Mr. Frye, only not such long periods of sitting.
DCA-- (Washington National at Dulles)
ABQ-- (Albuquerque, N.M.)
INW-- (current airport code for Winslow, AZ.)
ELP-- (El Paso, TX)
CRP-- (Corpus Christi)
BLD-- (Boulder City, N.V.)
Twitty, TX (no airport code)
SFN-- (Santa Fe, N.M.)
FAT-- (Fresno, California)
SFO-- (San Francisco)
OAK-- (Oakland)
Davis, CA.
TUC-- (Tucson, AZ.)
BNA-- (Nashville, TN)
STL-- (St. Louis MO.)
VVA-- (Verde Valley Airport) semi-private air field of Jack Frye
the documentation of this plane- and her father's association with Jack Frye!
TWA Lockheed Lodestar
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Sedona Legend Helen Frye Website
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