As a young boy in the post-WWII years, Frank Hale initially aspired to be a locomotive engineer. But after riding in a Cessna 140 on his 6th birthday, he knew flying was his future. He built instrument panels in his bedroom and began working at an airport at age 13, and by age 16 acquired his license and flew his first solo flight. By 18, as most are just entering adulthood, he received his commercial pilot’s license. Just a short two years later he became a Certified Flight instructor and has been active ever since. He also spent 21 years in the Air Force Reserve, as a Transportation Officer, including 12 years as a Squadron Commander of the 43rd and 72nd Aerial Port Squadrons. Frank worked for the Dow Chemical Company for 29 years as a pilot, when he retired and moved to Montana. Today he works as an independent corporate pilot flying Citation Jets and Falcons.
Frank works as a corporate pilot, but if you were to ask him where his passion lies, the answer is with the B-17 Flying Fortress. The B-17 is a heavy bomber that was developed in the 1930s for the U.S Army Air Corps and was put into action during the Second World War. It carried (B-17E) 10 crewmembers and had a maximum speed of 318 mph and a maximum range of 3,200 miles, while also carrying ten .50 caliber machine guns, one .30 caliber machine gun, and a maximum bomb load of 4,200lbs. The “Flying Fortress" is known for its ability to survive sustained damage and was used most often for daytime raids over mainland Europe. Because of their long-range capabilities, they did not have fighter escorts until nearly the end of the war, and thus relied on their own defense.
The stories of these heroic, brave young men evoke strong emotions, as most did not return from their missions. The heart-wrenching fact was that the odds of a B-17 crewman surviving the 25 missions required to complete a tour were only one in four. Robert Morgan, a pilot on the famed Memphis Belle, even stated, “you might have breakfast with 10 crewmen, but dinner with only two” (Simkins and Barrett). The emotional toll on survivors is quite profound, and it’s imperative to understand the sacrifice of these crewmen. Frank has had multiple experiences with pilots that flew B-17s in the Second World War, and their stories are powerful and most times, terrifying. One of Frank's passions is to bring these legendary planes back to life. He was able to attain his type rating for the B-17, and flew with the Wings of Freedom Tour, which traveled to different cities around the country so new generations can experience the iconic aircraft flown in WWII. He says:
The best way to describe it is driving a cement truck on a go-kart track! It's a big, heavy airplane that is usually pretty forgiving except in strong crosswinds. It is fairly easy to handle with one engine out, but with two out on the same side is a whole new ballgame. I love that airplane!
But it isn’t just the B-17. Frank has flown other WWII aircraft including the PT-17, PT-22, BT-13, AT-6, C-47, B-25, B-17, and B-24 (which he mentions is his least favorite). Though the Wings of Freedom Tour is terminated, the goals of educating others and sharing veterans’ stories prevails. While the advent of the jet age and advances in technology made the Flying Fortress obsolete soon after the conclusion of the war, the B-17 has a special place in aviation and military history. It was a major advancement that some say led to victory in the Second World War, and is still seen as a symbol of American spirit and strength.
Frank currently flies with the Commemorative Air Force, whose mission is to save examples of every aircraft that flew during WWII. Their main objective is to perpetuate in the memory and in the hearts of all Americans the spirit in which these great planes were flown in the defense of our nation. The preservation of history is imperative for understanding the past and as a tribute for those who served. It takes skilled and enthusiastic individuals to bring these aircraft back to life and even more so to fly them, and Frank’s abilities and passion for history undeniably make a difference.
Sources:
Simkins, J.D., and Claire Barrett. “75 Years after His Last Mission, WWII Bomber Pilot Recounts 'Sheer Terror' of Bombing Runs over Nazi Germany.” Military Times, Military Times, 19 Nov. 2019, https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2019/11/19/75-years-after-his-last-mission-wwii-bomber-pilot-recounts-sheer-terror-of-bombing-runs-over-nazi-germany/.
Our history & mission. Commemorative Air Force. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2022, from https://commemorativeairforce.org/pages/About-the-CAF
B-17 Flying Fortress, Historical Snapshot. Boeing. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2022, from https://www.boeing.com/history/products/b-17-flying-fortress.page
History of the Boeing B-17. EAA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2022 from
https://www.eaa.org/eaa/events-and-experiences/aluminum-overcast-eaa-b-17-bomber-tour/b-17-history-with-boeing-and-eaa
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. National WWII Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2022 from
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/museum-campus/us-freedom-pavilion/warbirds/b-17e-flying-fortress
