FRANK SMITH 1950 - 1983 PILOT DEN F H Smith shown with a hire date of 12/11/50 on the 9/1/72 and 9/1/81 FL/ALPA seniority lists. He is not on the 9/1/85 list. -Jake Lamkins (4/1/06) Posted at the FL Club: Subject: FL Club Pilot Frank Smith still going strong! Here's some good news. Take a look at the CRP news article earlier this week at http://www.caller.com/news/2007/oct/20/man-84-a-very-frequent-flier Frank had a pilot seniority date of 12/11/50. He retired about 1983, I think. Anybody have more on Frank. -Jake Lamkins (10/25/07) Frank Smith Jr. has come a long way in aviation since he started flying near his boyhood home in Aransas Pass in 1939. Smith, 84 and retired, has logged about 29,000 flight hours as a private and commercial pilot. He began taking flying lessons after a pilot took him and several friends on a short trip in a 1926 model year biplane, and he learned on a rural airport near Aransas Pass that was a cow pasture. He bought his first plane by saving up money working as a ditch digger and started flying solo when he was 16. Friday he made what might be one of his last interstate flights, flying with his 74-year-old brother, Doyen Smith, from his home in Mesa, Ariz., to Corpus Christi International Airport in his four-seat, single-engine Bellanca Turbo Viking. "Except for a few bumps the flight wasn't too bad, but that wasn't my brother's fault," Doyen Smith said. Frank Smith said he and his brother plan to fly around Texas visiting family and friends before flying back to Mesa from Midland. Friday's stop in Corpus Christi was his first time back to the area in about 14 years. "I always wanted to make at least one more trip out here," Frank Smith said. Smith, who has worked as a crop duster, Army Air Corps flight instructor during World War II and pilot for Frontier Airlines, said he has no plans to stop. "It gives me a sense of freedom," he said. "In the air, you are dependent on your own efforts -- if you get the plane up there, you have to get it down." Despite so many hours logged in the air, Smith said he only has had a handful of close calls. With Frontier Airlines, Smith at one time was the most-senior pilot flying a Boeing 737. One time a warning light came on indicating the landing gear was not working properly. After circling the airport to burn fuel he touched down safely -- a computer circuit likely gave a false warning message. About six years ago while flying his Bellanca, the landing gear did malfunction. "I had to land on only one wheel," he said. "The airplane veered off the runway, and there was a little damage, but we were OK." -Corpus Christi Caller Times on October 20, 2007 (10/25/07) I spoke with Frank Smith just a day or so ago. He has had a bad bout with bladder cancer. He's been in a lot of discomfort from this and had to go back into the hospital for extra procedures. He was home and in good spirits albeit the pain and discomfort remain. -Billy Walker (6/4/09) I just spoke with Frank Smith . As you know, he experienced a tough bout with bladder cancer a year ago and is now doing very well. He will be going to Mexico for several months fishin' and frolickin'. -Billy Walker (7/10/10) I visited with Frank Smith yesterday afternoon. He returned early from his trip to Mexico. Frank is not doing well. He's is dealing with a lot of pain and discomfort. They are trying to get him strong enough to endure a procedure to investigate the source of all this. His son, FH, says there is great concern that it is a recurrence of his bladder cancer issues from a year ago. If the spirit moves you, please send him a card to help cheer him up some. Also, Frank can accept calls albeit he tires easily. Frank is in Room 605 - Bed 2: Banner Baywood Medical Center 6644 E. Baywood Ave. Mesa, AZ 85206 (480) 321-2000 -Billy Walker (10/25/10) This is F.H. Smith III, Frank's son. First of all I want to thank Billy for sending this out. We are hoping that on Tuesday they can do the scoping and do a biopsy. As Billy says it all depends on if they can get him healthy enough to endure the procedure. I know that dad would enjoy hearing from you either with a card or a call. However, please know that he is under a lot of pain medication and isn't thinking real clearly right now. Thank you! -F.H. Smith (10/25/10) Note mailed to Frank: Hi Frank, Just wanted you to know me and the Frontier Family are rooting for you. Hope you get your health back real soon. -Jake Lamkins (10/25/10) I just wanted to bring you up to date about dad. Today he was admitted to a hospice facility. The name of the place is Eckstein Center. 480-661-4500. 9494 E. Becker Lane, Scottsdale 85260. He is in room 412. This facility's main purpose is palliative care. They strive tokeep their residents comfortable. They put comfort over clarity of mind. They only hold onto a person long enough to balance out his meds. At that point they release him to us and we have to put him into a skilled nursing or assisted living place. The exception to that is if he is rapidly declining. If that is the case, they hold onto him. Now I can tell you that with the level of pain medication he is on, there is very little real communication going on. He is hallucinating and carrying on conversations about things that we don't understand. I am sure he recognizes us but when he talks it doesn't make much sense. So if you decide to go visit him, he may or may not recognize you and would probably not be able to communicate anything real to you. We will decorate his room with any cards he receives and we can read to him what the card says. All I can tell you is that we firmly believe that where he is and the care he is being given is the absolute best choice we can make at this point. As things develop I will let you know . . . Thank you for caring! -F.H. Smith (10/26/10) As you know Captain Frank Smith is in Hospice care at Eckstein Center. FH, Frank's son, just spoke with the doctors. They feel that Frank's systems are shutting down and that he has perhaps a week before his Flight West. FH believes Frank is aware of his visitors, but he is unable to communicate now due to the heavy medication so necessary to combat the tremendous pain he was suffering. Please keep Frank in your thoughts and prayers along with the Smith family. -Billy Walker (10/27/10) Attached are photos from Frank's 87th birthday last May. 1st photo L-R: FH (Frank's son), Doyne (Frank's brother), Frank, Sarah (Frank's house keeper). Sara put the party together and quite a few of the old FAL folks were there. 2nd photo: Frank dancing with Janet Avakian. 3rd photo: Frank & FH 4th photo: Frank dancing with one of the former FAL flight attendants (can't remember)... So many flight attendants, so little time:-) -Billy Walker (10/27/10) I just wanted to make sure you were all up to date. Dad is in Hospice care. He is in the Eckstein Center in Scottsdale. Two days ago his doctor told me that he expected dad to pass within the week. We appreciate any prayers. I also need to tell you that he really can't carry on a conversation at this point. We believe he is aware of our presence but can't really communicate with us. We can only be there, hold his hand, play music for him and talk to him. Today he let me know he was uncomfortable (in pain). I was able to get the nurse to give him some more pain medication and that took hold in about 5 minutes. He relaxed some and I count that as a blessing. The only goal at this point is comfort. Thanks for your support and prayers! -F.H. Smith (10/29/10) I visited Frank this morning. I held his hand and spoke to him receiving no discernible response verbally or even with a squeeze of the hand. It was hard to see him in this condition after sharing his 87th birthday last May. The Hospice folks there are terrific and will do all they can to keep Frank as free from pain as possible. -Billy Walker (10/27/10) With sincere regret - Captain Frank Smith, Jr. left on his Flight West at 03:15 this morning. Word came from his son, FH. No word regarding arrangements at present. -Billy Walker (11/2/10) Just to clue you in on the Gone West of Capt Frank Smith 11-2-10. He was a very close friend, neighbor, etc. The plan is for 'something' the first week in December. -Ace Avakian (11/3/10) Still cannot find an obituary. Since Frank was 87 last May, he would have been born in 1923. Thus he would have turned the mandatory pilot retirement age of 60 in 1983. So I will use that year as his retirement until I hear differently. -Jake Lamkins (11/7/10) Frank's son FH said that any of the Frontier Family are welcome to attend and, hopefully, tell some stories. Please RSVP if you can attend. FH's number is 602-466-2523. Please pass this along to the FAL folks on your list. Blue Skies & Tailwinds... -Billy Walker ---------------------------- We are planning on doing 2 services on the 6th of December. The first one will be a military service at the National Memorial Cemetery. That will be at 11:00AM. The second "celebration of life" gathering will be at his home in Mesa. We will meet at 1:00. You are welcome to come to either one or both. The first will be formal in nature and the second one will be a casual get together for friends and family to reminisce etc. Call or write if you need directions. Sincerely, -F.H. Smith 602-466-2523 (11/9/10) Posted at the Frontier Club: Subject: New memorial webpage FRANK SMITH 1950 - 1983 PILOT DEN http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Frank_Smith.html Post your remembrances of Frank. -Jake Lamkins (11/16/10) I had no idea this website existed until you emailed me. I am in contact with a great aunt who I believe is going to send me more information about dad's childhood. Also, I will send some pictures at a later time. I hope you can make his memorial service and/or the "celebration of life" we are having for him on December 6th. Thanks so much, -F.H. Smith (11/17/10) Captain Smith was the "Gentleman of all Gentlemen" and the consummate professional airman. I am so honored to have known him for over 43 years. I think I may have met Frank through his son F. H. who was a musician, as was I. In 1967, Captain Smith checked me out in the family plane, A Stinson Station Wagon, and gave me a set of keys. He told me to fly it all I wished and just add gas when necessary. Not having much time in "tail draggers", I returned the keys after only 5 or 6 hours of flying. I was afraid I would damage the plane. During my main working years of the 70s and 80s, I lost regular contact with Frank. After I retired in 1991, I moved to Mesa to be closer to Falcon Field and my plane. As fate would have it, I ended up living about one and a half blocks from the Smiths' home. At Falcon, we even had neighboring hangers for awhile. During Frank's illness, I enjoyed meeting his Brother, Doyen. He was always here when Frank needed him. Another quality guy! Frank was a dear friend and I am so honored to have known him and flown with him. -Phil Pearce (11/17/10) Here is something that my uncle wrote about dad. Would you please post this? Also, I am including some photos of dad. Hopefully more will be coming . . . -F.H. Smith (11/19/10) A tribute to my brother, Frank H. Smith Jr. Hi, I am Doyen and I flew the Corpus Christi trip with Frank in 2007. The trip covered over 3000 miles and 7 stops. What a great experience and one I will never forget. I would like to tell you a little about Frank. Although I did not see a lot of him in my younger years. He was not home very much because he wanted to buy an airplane and was working all the time at various jobs. I remember he did buy his first airplane sometime in the early 40s. It was a 40 H.P. piper cub and Pop had a 50 H.P. piper cub. They flew out of a cow pasture in Aransas Pass , Tx. I got my first taste of flying in those two airplanes. In Pop's 50H.P. I could not reach the rudder petals so I could only stick fly but In the 40 H.P. I could reach the rudder petals and Frank taught me to make turns etc. By the time the war started , Pop and Frank Jr. (we called him Frankie) had instructor ratings and were teaching students in small towns up and down the coast. Frank left home and did flying for a couple of places in the Dallas area but I don't remember what he was doing. I do remember that he started training students at Texas A.M. for a R.O.T.C. type group, using Interstate Cadet aircraft. I am not sure of the date he entered the military, but I know he had a strong desire to fly fighters. He graduated from Luke and got his wings in 1945 so he was too late to get into fighters and was made an instructor. After the service Frank tried to make a living flying but it was tough with so many pilots getting out of service. He tried various flying jobs including student training, crop dusting and flying oil company engineers up and down the Texas coast doing survey work. One of the early pilots from Frank's cow pasture flying in Aransas pass was Elmer Burson and Elmer encouraged Frank to use the G.I. bill to get a multi engine rating and apply for work at Frontier. He did and was hired in 1950. I always admired Frank for being able to train and become Captain on so many different aircraft. Frank had three things he was really proud of; his career with Frontier, a good wife and son and a good airplane. I miss him a lot. -Doyen Smith (11/19/10) I am still hoping that one of the pilots who flew with dad back in the 50s will add some comments. Since I was just a boy back then, I don't remember much from those days. -F.H. Smith (11/20/10) My name is Carlene Smith Inge and I am one of Frank's nieces. My dad is Doyen. I grew up with my Aunt and Uncle. I have wonderful memories of visiting them in Denver, staying with them during Christmas and summer breaks. Regardless of of my age and where our paths crossed, he always had a smile and a hug waiting for me. He loved to travel and they kept a trailer in Boulder City so on his layovers he and Rheabelle could do the one other thing he enjoyed almost as much as flying - and that was fish. I can remember many times being at the camp site with a stringer of fish late in the evening that he and my dad caught. He was never shy to show and tell! I saw my first buffalo when he took me to Estes Park for the summer. Much of my love of nature and outdoors came from that trip. He showed me places and things I had never seen. I remember clearly the large river that ran beside the camp site. Uncle Frank was a man of facts and he quoted to me the number of people who were lost in that river ever year due to the icy waters and swift current and he made me promise I would never go near the river alone. While he had a stern voice and was determined to keep me safe, there was no denying the love in his voice. In my teens and 20s they lived in Athens, Texas. I think that place gave him peace after his mandatory retirement from Frontier. He built his dream home and boat house and lived there in what he termed "resort living" with his beloved wife and his number one side kick, "Happy." After the end of a day on the water it was my duty to gather the hickory nuts from under the tree and crush them for him to use in the grill. He was quite proud of his steaks cooked out on the back porch overlooking the lake. After moving to Arizona he found a place to escape the hot summers in Pine Top. He absolutely loved everything about Pine Top and it was easy to see why. That place suited him My family had the opportunity to host the 2007 Smith flying duo as they made their round trip from Mesa to Texas and back. Uncle Frank had wanted to make that trip for 10 years and was so proud to be doing it, and to see the brothers flying together, working as a team and caring for one another reinforced everything Frank stood for as man. My last visit with him was when he and F.H. flew the plane into Las Vegas for a small family reunion. Just as he had been so proud to share his flying with me as a child, he was equally honored to show his plane to my two boys - both two young to fly, but definitely fisherman, and he delighted in that visit. Lastly, as a tribute to how much respect he had for those he flew with at Frontier, he entrusted me into your care when I was 7 years old. I had spent the summer with he and Aunt Rheabelle and it was time for me to fly home. He walked me onto the plane, introduced me to the flight attendants and then must have asked him 20 times if I was sure I did not want him to fly me home, because he could sit in the seat right next to me. I assured him I would be fine, and he knew I would be, because he trusted the Frontier family with his own. I don't know how far west a pilot goes when he leaves this world, but I know when God gave him his wings he landed besides his beautiful and beloved wife and their many four legged companions they had loved throughout the years. I would like to think she is wearing some snappy little outfit and her trademark Indian Jewelry with a book in her hand, a smile on her face, and him right beside her casting and catching rainbow trout. And if it is possible for a pilot to take something with him when they go west, I have no doubt they are listening to one of F.H.'s CDs on their boat! -Carlene Inge (11/20/10) Uncle Frank and Aunt Rheabelle were a huge part of my life when I was growing up. I was pretty young when Frank Smith came to take my beloved Auntie on their first date. So I am told, my first reaction to my future Uncle was to kick him in the shins! Uncle Frank has repeated that story many times, and although I was too young to remember doing it, I will never forget the story! -Bob Dawes (11/21/10) Shortly after Bob and I were married we made a trip to Phoenix to visit not only Aunt Rheabelle and Uncle Frank but Bob's Grandparents. One of the planned activities was a plane trip with Uncle Frank. I am and have always been subject to "travel sickness". Bob's Nanna gave me some dramamine and I went for the plane ride hoping for the best. Everything went well until Uncle Frank flew us over Barry Goldwater's house. Even from the air it was a large place and Uncle Frank circled it a number of times telling us about it. Well that did it! I was SICK!! Fortunately, I was sitting in the back seat behind Bob and Uncle Frank and I was able to keep from disgracing myself in the air. As soon as we landed I made a run for the ladies room. I never mentioned that I had gotten sick as I knew it would have hurt his feelings. -Colleen Dawes (11/21/10) Thank yall for your remembrances of Frank. You honor him by remembering his memory. In case you don't know how "gone west" came to mean the passing of a pilot, and later on any airline person; here is a quote from a Frontier pilot who, I'm sure, knew Frank. Some years back I was doing some research in the archive book section of Brigham Young University. In reading about the old airmail pilots who flew the transcontinental mail between the years of 1918 and 1927 I came across an article explaining the term 'Gone West.' As the old airmail route continued its expansion from the east coast to the west, thirty-two pilots and nine mechanics lost their lives in the line of duty. Three hundred wrecked aircraft were strewn from the Allegheny Mountains known as 'The Hell Stretch,' across the open plains to the Rockies, the Wasatch, the Sierras into the west coast. When a pilot was over due, the term 'Gone West' came into being. -Tex Searle, FL pilot Get Tex's book about his Frontier Airlines career in the DC-3 and you will get a strong flavor of what Frank's life was 'back in the day.' The title is The Golden Years of Flying and you can buy a copy cheap at http://Amazon.com -Jake Lamkins (11/21/10) Posted at the FL Club: Subject: Frank Smith's memorial services Hi Frontier people! I just wanted to remind you about dad's services on Dec. 6th. We are planning on doing 2 services that day. The first one will be a military service at the National Memorial Cemetery 23029 N. Cave Creek Road. That will be at 11:00AM. The second "celebration of life" gathering will be at his home in Mesa, 5852 E. Jasmine St. Mesa, AZ 85205. We will meet at 1:00. You are welcome to come to either one or both. The first will be formal in nature and the second one will be a casual get together for friends and family to reminisce, etc. Call or write if you need directions: 602-466-2523 Would you please RSVP if you are coming so we will know how much food to prepare? Thank you, -F.H. Smith (11/22/10) I have something here that I wrote that I would like posted on dad's website. Also, I found this great old picture of dad. Would you please post it as well? Thank you very much for doing this. It means a lot! This picture was in mom's wallet. She carried it with her wherever she went. Also I just received a letter from Ace Avakian. I will have to transcribe it and put it in a word doc before I can forward it to you. I will work on that these next couple days. Thanks for all of your help!!! -F.H. Smith (12/1/10) Here is what just might be the last entry we make (maybe). It is a letter Ace Avakian wrote. Please post it when you have a chance. Thanks so much! -F.H. Smith (12/2/10) I wanted to ask you if I can still post some more pictures? I have one of dad in his Frontier uniform, one with mom and dad together, a couple from his memorial service including a missing man fly over in a Stearman, and a couple on the day that we dispersed his ashes over Saguaro Lake. This picture captures the folding of the flag at the service. This next one is a picture of the Stearman that flew the missing man flight over the cemetery. It turns out that the pilot was a highly decorated two time commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds. His name is Roger Parish. The next picture is of dad's brother Doyen and Phil Pearce in front of Phil's Cessna. This is just before we took our trip to disperse dad and mom's ashes. This picture captures Saguaro Lake and surrounding area. What I felt when we made this trip was that dad was with us. It was a beautiful day and we were flying over the same kind of scenery that dad was so familiar with and so loved! -Frank Smith III (12/17/10) Got six pix and your comments. Will get them posted to your dad's website as soon as possible. I especially like the pic of Frank in his Frontier uniform. -Jake Lamkins (12/17/10)