Frank Wead

Frank Wilber Wead
October 24, 1895(1895-10-24) – November 15, 1947 (aged 52)
Nickname	Spig
Place of birth	Peoria, Illinois
Place of death	Santa Monica, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy

Frank Wilber "Spig" Wead (born October 24, 1895, in Peoria, Illinois – died November 15, 1947, in Santa Monica, California) was a U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II.

Biography

Navy career

A 1916 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Wead began to promote Naval Aviation after World War I through air racing and speed competitions. This competition, mainly against the United States Army (and its leader Jimmy Doolittle), helped push U.S. military aviation forward. These competitions would give military aviation a much-needed spotlight in the public eye. The public attention that it generated helped push Congress to fund the advancement of military aviation. During World War I, Wead served on a minelayer in the North Sea.^[1] After World War I he was a test pilot for the Navy.

Training

LT(j.g.) Frank Wead requested for and received orders for naval aviation flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. LT(j.g.) Wead was in the same group of three flight students (LTjg Frank Wilber "Sparrow" "Spig" Wead, USNA-1916; LTjg Robert Moran "Jerry" Farrar, USNA-1916; LTjg Calvin "Cal" "Pansy" Thornton Durgin, USNA-1916). LT(j.g.) Wead reported to NAS Pensacola on 15 September 1919 for elementary and advanced flight training, shortly followed by Jerry and Cal. Their flight instructor for basic flight training and soloing was LT Harry Francis Carlson, USN.^[2]

The Commanding Officer at NAS Pensacola was Captain Harley Hannibal Christy, USN (USNA-1891). At the BOQ, billeting assignments included: LT(j.g.) Frank Wead and LT(j.g.) Ralph Eugene Davison as roommates; LT(j.g.) Calvin Durgin and LT(j.g.) Ralph Allen Scott as roommates; LT(j.g.) John Dale "John" "Dale" "Suds" Price and LT(j.g.) Robert Farrar were in the same dormitory with other student naval officers.^[3] During his training period at the naval air station, LT(j.g.) Frank Wead was able to obtain for his family a Gulf of Mexico view on Bay Front road, in Palmetto Beach, Escambia County, Florida. This property was reached by taking a route west of NAS Pensacola along the intercoastal waterway.^[4]

The three aviators (Wead, Farrar, Durgin) learned the basics of flight in HS boats, F5Ls, and NC seaplanes. In one of their training flights, they had one harrowing experience with Cal as pilot, Spig as radio operator and Jerry as co-pilot. Years later, Vice Admiral Durgin noted this incident in a letter to John Ford. Durgin stated that they had a good scare. In developing the story for The Wings of Eagles, Vice Admiral John Dale Price, USN (Ret.) cooperated with Ford and developed that singular terrifying flight at NAS Pensacola into the early aviation scene of that film, thus producing a hilarious aerial stunt that only a Ford production film could develop. LT(j.g.) Wead was designated a Naval Aviator on 17 April 1920. Both Jerry and Cal received their aviation wings on 27 May 1920.

Writing

While assigned at Pensacola, Florida, LT(j.g.) Wead wrote articles on naval aviation, customs, and etiquette for Proceedings [1], the United States Naval Institute magazine. His book Professional Questions and Answers for Naval Officers, published in late 1921, provided a complete, concise summary of all naval textbooks and publications pertaining to topics such as military & international law, strategy & tactics, navigation, ordnance & gunnery, seamanship, electricity & radio, steam engineering, regulations, including examination questions, and became a standard reference work for naval officers.^[5]

Racing

In September 1923, Wead was a member of the United States Navy team that traveled to Cowes, England, to compete in the Schneider Cup Race (Jacques Schneider Maritime Seaplane Trophy). The Schneider Cup (or Schneider Trophy), which was named for the French aviation enthusiast, started in Monaco in 1913. This most prestigious seaplane racing cup resided in Europe until 1923 when Lieutenant David Rittenhouse won the race and brought the cup home to the United States for the Navy team.

On the 22nd and 23rd of June 1924 in Anacostia, D.C., as a lieutenant, Wead along with Lieutenant John Dale Price, using a Curtiss CS-2 with a Wright T-3 Tornado engine, set new Class C seaplane records for distance (963.123 miles), duration (13 hours-23 minutes-15 seconds), and three speed records (73.41 mph for 500 kilometers, 74.27 mph for 1000 km, and 74.17 mph for 1500 km). Lieutenants Wead and Price struck again on the 11th and 12th of July 1924, with new Class C seaplane records for distance (994.19 miles) and duration (14 hours-53 minutes-44 seconds) using a CS-2 with a Wright Tornado engine. In order to set these records, Wead and Price had to exchange positions at the controls, as the aircraft had only one set of controls. One of the pair would leave the navigator/spotter position, climb out of the plane and slide along the hull on a small rail. The two would both occupy the pilots seat as one slid into place and the other slid out and exited the aircraft and moved to the navigator's position.

Tactics

In his book All the Factors of Victory: Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves and The Origins of Carrier Airpower (May 2003), Thomas Wildenberg provided an insight into the naval aviation tactical issues Rear Admiral Reeves was involved with, and the part Lieutenant Commander Wead played as commanding officer of VF-2 fighter squadron (comprising Vought VE-7SF "Bluebird", Boeing Model 15 naval variant FB-5, Curtiss Model 34D F6C-2 "Hawk"). LCDR Wead was preparing his squadron for the June 1926 tactical exercises aboard USS Langley (CV-1) up to his untimely accident [14 April 1926]. Wildenberg identified Wead's replacement as Lieutenant Commander Frank Dechant Wagner.^[6] who would further improve upon the training tactics devised by LCDR Wead- the new dive-bombing techniques.^[7]. Harvey M. Beigel provided an article that was published in the American Aviation Historical Society Journal [2] (winter 1997) describing further details of "Spig" Wead's aviation exploits and screenwriting abilities.^[8]

Accident

Wead would have continued his career as a naval aviator had it not been for a serious accident. In April 1926, he was resting upstairs in his home and heard one of his daughters scream. He then rushed downstairs and tripped, falling and breaking his neck. The injury resulted in paralysis. While convalescing, at the encouragement of his Navy friends, Wead began writing.

A San Diego Union staff writer (The San Diego Union-Tribune) was at the Balboa Park Naval Hospital (dedicated in 1922; today, the Naval Medical Center San Diego) [3] when LT Frank Wead was brought in by naval ambulance. early Thursday morning, 15 April 1926. The hours passed by as Wead was taken into surgery and later placed in the recovery ward. By late Thursday afternoon the first official reports pertaining to the surgery were released to the waiting reporters outside the hospital. It wasn't until the Friday morning news edition of the San Diego Union newspaper when the City of San Diego and Coronado learned what happen. In an article "Daring Aviator Fractures Neck", the story unfolded as follows:

"Lieut. Frank Wead Slips on Stairway of Coronado Home; Operated Upon. Lieut. Frank Wead, one of the best known aviators in the naval service, was operated on for a fractured neck at the naval hospital yesterday morning. Wead sustained the injury whcih came near costing his life when he slipped and fell from the top of the stairway of his home in Coronado late Wednesday night. The aviator had just moved into the home and was unfamiliar with the staircase. Physicians, following the operation yesterday, said that Wead will recover but it is doubtful if he will be able to fly again. Wead's outstanding exploit since entering the naval flying corps was his flight against British pilots in the international seaplane races off the Isle of Wright in 1923, when American naval fliers took all the honors."^[9]

While LT Wead was still recovering from surgery, the San Diego Union released another article Sunday morning titled "Flier Has Even Chance For Life":

"Lieut. Frank Wead, noted naval aviation pilot, whose neck was fractured when he fell down the stairs of his new home in Coronado last week, still is in a precarious condition at the Balboa Park naval hospital. Wead was operated on last Friday, the operation being one of the most delicate ever performed at that institution, according to surgeons. Reports from the hospital are that the navy aviator has an even chance of recovery".^[10]

While LCDR Wead laid recuperating following his surgery, the Pacific Fleet schedule for the week of 18 - 24 April 1926 was announced at the 11th Naval District Headquarters (United States Naval Districts ), Thursday, 15 April 1926, as follows: USS LANGLEY (CV-1) and USS Aroostook (CM-3) (experimental work), fighting squadrons nos. 1 and 2 (gunnery exercises and tactics). Also, all vessels of the battleship divisions, destroyers squadrons, submarine divisions, and aircraft forces participated that week in battle fleet tactical exercises, between the area of San Diego - San Pedro. The aircraft were launched at sea from catapults and engaged in torpedo and dive-bombing tactics- both day and night. These were the events that LCDR Wead would have participated if not for his accident.^[11]

And so it began. From 15 April 1926 until his medical discharge from the Navy, LCDR Wead was medically attached at Balboa Park Naval Hospital, San Diego CA, to undergo treatment for his cervical fracture (treatment that included rigid braces and traction followed by whirlpool sessions). His fellow pilots and friends (NAS North Island; the staff of the Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet; 11th Naval District Headquarters; the Bureau of Aeronautics headed by Rear Admiral William A. Moffett) did not forget him. Wead was one of the most experienced naval aviators of the times having written several articles that were published in the Proceedings magazine, and an excellent naval officer with command abilities who brought to the Bureau of Aeronautics and the Navy Department the coveted Schneider Cup trophy including a number of naval aviation world records.^[12]

During spring 1927, in the hope that his recovery was imminent and with the strong recommendation from Commander Marc Andrew Mitscher, RADM Moffett submitted LCDR Wead's name to the Bureau of Naval Personnel (headed by RADM Richard Henry Leigh) to be the new squadron commander of VF-6B (previously, VF-2) with duty aboard USS LANGLEY (CV-1), while LCDR Frank D. Wagner would be assigned as the Tactical & Gunnery Officer, Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, aboard USS Langley- to assist RADM Reeves. CDR Mitscher worked it out so that in LCDR Wead's squadron he would get LCDR John Edwin Ostrander, Jr. (Executive Officer for VF-6B), and two seasoned pilots Lieutenants Daniel Webb "Tommy" Tomlinson IV (USNA-1917; Naval Aviator # 2923; 28 April 1897 - 07 January 1996; originator of the Navy's acrobatic flying team The Three Seahawks- LT Tomlinson, LT Bill Davis, LT Aaron Putt Storrs III) and Morton Tinslar Seligman. Years later, CDR Seligman was Executive Officer of USS Lexington (CV-2) at the time of its sinking, 08 May 1942.^[13] However, LCDR Wead's recovery was ruled out by a Medical Board, and in the summer of 1928 LCDR Wead was placed Retired List of the Navy (28 May 1928), thus allowing for LCDR Wagner (senior aviator for command) to become C.O. of VF-6B.^[14]

World War II

Wead returned to the Navy during World War II and helped integrate the use of escort carriers to support the main battle line and beach landings.

In his syndicated column In Hollywood, Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) service staff correspondent Paul Harrison released an article on a recent interview with Spig Wead titled "No Weeds Growing Under Wead’s Feet" (NEA supplied daily features to many newspapers; United Media). Paul wrote:

"Early Offer. On the fateful afternoon of December7, Wead sent a wire offering his services to Rear Admiral J. H. Towers, Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics. A reply of acceptance came next day, along with assurance he needn’t worry about his physical disability…And so Lieut. Comdr. Frank Wead now is special assistant to Capt. Ralph Davison, head of the Plans Division, which deals with the organization and tactical operation of all naval aviation...When I used the word 'sacrifice' in reminding him that he was leaving a $2,000-a-week berth for one paying $460 a month, he just snorted. It was a very eloquent snort."^[15]

According to a letter written by Vice Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN (Ret.), to John Ford:

"I can tell your writer about getting Spig to Washington during the war. I suggested to Admiral Towers that we recall him. It was he who originated the plan, which later was adopted, of changing over many of the cruisers we were then building into light carriers (CVL's). He deserves most of the credit for that. I remember discussing this matter with him and then going to Admiral Pratt who, at that time, was very close to Roosevelt and who was quite interested in getting the small jeep carriers started [during this period, Commander Durgin was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics, Plans Division]. I think the first such carrier, the LONG ISLAND, was Admiral Pratt's idea. Spig's aggressiveness and logical approach convinced Admiral King and the President that six of the eighteen cruisers should be made into carriers. Spig was not satisfied; he wanted all eighteen to be CVL's. He said the cruisers were not going to take a big part in the Pacific war but that carriers would. This was in 1940 - 1941. Spig, as we know now, was absolutely right".^[16]

CDR Frank Wead was relieved of active duty on 21 July 1944. He returned to southern California taking up residence at the Hotel Bel-Air [4], 701 Stone Canyon Road, City of Los Angeles CA. His military awards included: Legion of Merit (Combat), Mexican Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal (with North Sea Mine Laying medal clasp), World War II Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and letters of commendation for commanding the U.S. Navy Schneider Cup Team (1923-1924)and setting new seaplane records (1924). Along with these military awards, CDR Wead maintained a large collection of naval aviation photos including a large replica model of USS LEXINGTON (provided by the Bureau of Aeronautics).

Screenwriting

Following his release from Balboa Naval Hospital, LCDR Wead, USN (Ret.), moved to Los Angeles County, California, to reside in the City of Santa Monica where he purchased a beautiful small home at 1417 Ocean Avenue (an ocean front view). It was at this residence that LCDR Wead wrote "Panama Liberty" (The American Magazine, volume 109, # 5, sale 25 cents, May 1930), "Deal Me Out" (The Saturday Evening Post, volume 202, # 47, page 54, sale 5 cents, 24 May 1930), "Crash Dive!" (Submarine Stories, volume 4, # 12, page 36, sale 20 cents, July 1930), "Control" (The American Magazine, volume 111, # 3, page 74, sale 25 cents, March 1931), "Bluff" (Liberty, page 37, sale 5 cents, 27 August 1932), and "Old Timer (The Saturday Evening Post, volume 205, # 40, page 12, sale 5 cents, 01 April 1933). Also at this residence, LCDR Wead wrote the screenplay for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production of Hell Divers (1931).^[17] Years later this home was removed and in its place was built the Portofino Plaza (3-complex, state of the art, class A office and retail building).^[18]

Under contract with MGM Studios, in late 1930 Frank Wead began work on a story called Hell Divers. Frank selected that title to depict the Navy pilots and their exploits who became to be known as hell divers when the Navy purchased the Curtiss F8C Hell Diver aircraft in 1929. This story became a brain-child of Wead, and he discussed it enough times with his Navy friends to decide that it might be worth introducing his story to Hollywood. His manuscript generated just enough interest at MGM that in order to obtain fresh first-hand accounts of naval personnel on "liberty" in a tropical port, he was able to convince the studio that a trip to the Canal Zone timed to meet the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the 1931 Army-Navy Fleet Problem XII would be beneficial. The 1931 Army-Navy Fleet Problem XII (16 - 20 February 1931) was to be conducted in the Pacific-Panama Bay area, and aircraft carriers were to be employed- the first time Naval strategists allowed for the full defensive power of aircraft to be tested.^[19] More importantly, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air) David Sinton "Dave" Ingalls was to be present, ensuring his work and talk and planning efforts for two years in office would pay-off.^[20] What better timing to get screen material for a Navy film.

The policy at the time from the Navy Department was that when a new movie was to be filmed depicting the lives of naval personnel, the complete story first was submitted to a board of four senior naval officers in Washington which would either reject or accept every scene. After that the fleet commander was to be notified that he is to allow the movie company use of certain ships and equipment at, of course, his discretion. As a rule, training or other schedules never were allowed to be altered for picture makers. It was late 1930 when formal approval was received from the Navy Department for the filming Hell Divers, and the USS Saratoga (CV-3) was identified as the ship in which the at-sea aviation filming was to be conducted.

In January 1931, Frank received studio approval and with passage booked aboard a steamship, he went to one of the passenger terminals of Los Angeles harbor, where along with several other studio photographers they departed for Panama City, Canal Zone (Panama Canal Zone). With Frank were Warren Pistol (born: 17 Sep 1890, Cincinnati OH); Harold Wenstrom (born: 04 Jan 1893, Brooklyn, NY; World War veteran; died: 26 Apr 1944); and, Charles Stranmer (born: 14 Aug 1905, Philadelphia PA).^[21] Recalling some of his own Canal Zone exploits during the early 1920s while in the Navy, Frank spent all of February until late March 1931 writing from a hotel room in Panama City and obtained first-hand accounts for a story about the U.S. Pacific fleet inport, and it's sailors carousing through this tropical seaport patronizing the large saloons for the cool drinks and the pretty bar girls and barfights. During this same period and while Fleet Problem 12 was underway, Harold Wenstrom with Waren Pistol and Charles Stranmer went aboard USS SARATOGA (CV-3) to film some of the early aerial scenes. It should be noted that Frank and Harold were World War veterans and basically knew what aerial scenes were needed and how the interior saloon fights were to be shot, and this gave Warren and Charles some value-added experience in these areas.

With a story and some carrier aviation photography, the MGM studio team (Frank, Harold, Warren, Charles) departed from Panama City aboard S.S. CEFALU on 28 March 1931, stopped at Cristobal, and returned to the Port of New Orleans, 02 April 1931.^[22] With the studio team back in Hollywood, Frank finalized a deliverable story for the studio's selected director George William Hill to begin reviewing in late spring 1931. Shortly after, production and directing began with more filming aboard USS SARATOGA steaming outside Coronado Roads (close to Naval Air Station North Island to allow for the film crew to make trips out to the carrier). On 16 September 1931, the aerial photography was officially completed, and on the dirt, oil-stained flightline at NAS North Island a Navy photographer took a group picture of naval aviators and movie actors adjacent to a Navy fighter-bomber F3B-1 (Model 77) of VF-1 "TopHat" squadron. The photo (L-R) showed Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards, LT(j.g.) John Smith "Jimmy" Thatch, Clark Gable, Wallace Fitzgerald Beery, LT(j.g) Herbert Spencer Duckworth, and LT(j.g.) Edward Page Southwick (USNA- 1927). ^[23]

Finishing touches to the film Hell Divers took place in October 1931, and became publicly released on 16 January 1932. Needless to say, the story was a screen success, helping the film careers of Clark Gable, Wallace Beery and Conrad Nagel, and it favorably presented naval life to the public to help enlistments. Maurice "Red" Kann, editor of The Motion Picture Daily of New York City, had this to say about the film Hell Divers: "It's a smash audience picture, this yarn of naval aviation. It's loaded with two-fisted performances, comedy and a photographic pageant of air thrills such as the screen hasn't caught since the 'plane parade in Hell's Angels'...heightened by the expert work of Harold Wenstrom".^[24]

Writing would become a second and even more important career for Wead, and a means of promoting naval aviation. This second unforeseen career would be far more important than his endeavors as a pilot. Wead's writing led him to Hollywood and the eventual friendship and collaboration with director John Ford. Wead received two Academy Award nominations in 1938, one for Best Original Story for Test Pilot and a second for Best Screenplay for The Citadel.

Wead also wrote for leading magazines (The Saturday Evening Post and The American Magazine), and he wrote at least two books: Ceiling Zero (1936), and Gales, Ice and Men (1937). He later adapted Ceiling Zero into both a Broadway play and a feature film.

In their editorial work The Movies: Texts, Receptions, Exposures (1996), Goldstein and Konigsberg captured a story behind the scenes when MGM Studios was focused on an "atomic bomb" film (same time period when Warner Brothers Pictures were considering a bomb film to be called Top Secret) to be titled The Beginning or the End. Told by Samuel Marx, he remembered Frank Wead during his years working in Hollywood as:

"...possibly the most embittered man I know. It was literally impossible for anyone to get Frank Wead to write a soft scene for a film, and it immeasurably hurt The Beginning or the End." During early 1940s until 1947, Samuel Marx explained that the political ideas of Frank Wead helped provide support to a group called "...the Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals [Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals], and it included some pretty important MGM people, including Bob Taylor, Victor Fleming, and Cedric Gibbons, whom I loved, and a lot of other boys who were sure, as Jim was, that the United States was about to be taken over by the Communists" [also included, Sam Wood, Walt Disney, Leo McCarey].^[25]

In a newspaper article written by United Press Hollywood correspondent & staff writer Virginia MacPherson titled "Truman Picks Title for MGM Atomic Bomb Film":

"Hollywood, Cal. - (U.P.) - Anybody got any ideas on how to combine sex and the atomic bomb? MGM would like to know and in a hurry, too. Because two other studies have joined the race to get out the first movie about the bomb. MGM's calling theirs 'The Beginning of the End' (title by courtesy of President Truman) and L. S. Mayer's given it top priorities. on stars, film, sets, and anything else it needs...Writing Story. MGM hired Bob Considine to write the story and Cmdr. Frank Wead to turn out the script. Considine's working in the east to keep up on the latest bomb developments. Every day he writes a page, rushes it to Western Union, and wires it to MGM...Considine's building his plot around everybody connected with the bomb- from President Roosevelt, who had to talk congress into spending two billion dollars without knowing what it was for, to President Truman, who didn't even know there was such a thing as the atom bomb until the day after he took office. And all the studio's waiting for now is for Considine to figure out a formula for mixing uranium and plutonium with stardust and moonlight..."^[26]

Legacy

Frank Wead died in 1947. John Ford made a movie about Wead, The Wings of Eagles (1957), and cast John Wayne as Wead. John Dale Price was played by Ken Curtis. Ward Bond played director Ford in the thinly-disguised pseudonymous character of John Dodge. Mrs. Minnie "Min" (Bryant) Wead (Frank's wife) was played by Maureen O'Hara.

On 17 November 1947, the Associated Press released an article following the death of Frank Wead:

"Santa Monica, Calif. Nov. 17- (AP) – Frank Wead, 52, of Los Angeles, naval aviator in World War I who became a film writer died Saturday night in Santa Monica hospital [5] which he entered Nov. 1 for surgery...Wead, who was born in Peoria, Ill., fell at home in 1927, fracturing his neck and sustaining paralysis after which he retired from the Navy. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Doris (William) Copley of San Diego, Calif., daughter-in-law of the late publisher, Col. Ira C. Copley, and Mrs. Lila Ployardt of North Hollywood, Calif.; by his divorced wife, Mrs. Minnie Wead, La Jolla, Calif., and by two brothers DeForest Wead of Peoria, and David Wead, Oswego, Ill. [also survived by a nephew- DeForest W. Meehleib of Peoria, Ill.]. After funeral services Tuesday the body will be taken to Peoria for burial."^[27]

Just a few days following the death of CDR Frank Wilber Wead, USN (Ret.), Hearst columnist (Hearst Corporation), commentator and writer Robert Bernard "Bob" Considine (Bob Considine) submitted a tribute article titled Frank Wead. He wrote:

"FRANK WEAD, the Hollywood writer who died this week, was one of the more remarkable figures of our time...When the carrier war opened in the Pacific Wead returned to active service in the Navy...'Spig' Wead was flown to Pearl Harbor and lifted aboard a carrier by cargo net. From his desk in the captain's quarters he helped plan some of the more remarkable strikes against the Japanese fleet and shore installations. If his carrier had gone down, he would have had to go with it, for there could be no escape for him…he remained one of the frankest critics of navy 'battleship brass' in intimate naval circles. He had been a confirmed airman since he captained the early Schneider cup teams and his constant hammering for more funds and attention for naval aviation brought about many of the reforms we know today".^[28]

In July 1956, veteran Associated Press Bob Thomas (reporter), who covered Hollywood stories for many years, had interviewed Charles Schnee (film producer of The Wings of Eagles). Schnee had known Frank Wead for a number of years, and had this to say about the naval aviator and World War II aircraft carrier strategist:

"He was living in a new house in San Diego. He got up in the night to look at one of his daughters and was going back to bed when he slipped and fell downstairs. Wead broke his back. The doctors told him he would be forced to face the life of an invalid, but he refused to accept their decision. He taught himself to walk, slowly and painfully, with the aid of canes…His doctor, who is helping us with the picture, said he would have lived much longer if he hadn’t gone on active duty [World War II]."^[29]

Frank A. Andrews's book Dirigible (New York: A.L. Burt Co. 1931), is based on the Columbia picture screenplay by Wead.

At The Lilly Library, Indiana University, the John Ford Papers contain correspondence letters (box 1, folder 1 - box 3, folder 36; arranged chronologically) written by Frank Wilber Wead, John Dale Price in which both naval officers provided John Ford background material for his Navy films.^[30]

Military Awards and Civilian Honors

Military Awards Awards and Decorations of the United States Military

Legion of Merit

|  Legion of Merit

Mexican Service Medal

|  Mexican Service Medal

World War I Victory Medal (United States) (with Mine Laying clasp)

|  World War I Victory Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

|  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

World War II Victory Medal (United States)

|  World War II Victory Medal

Civilian Honors

Schneider Trophy 1923

Awarded in Cowes, United Kingdom

Ceiling Zero 1936

Received critics choice recognition in Broadway Play and picture

Test Pilot (film) 1938

Earned 4 Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Writing, Original Story, Best Film Editing

The Citadel (film) 1938

Earned 4 Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Direction, Adapted Screenplay

They Were Expendable 1945

Earned 2 Academy Award nominations: Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Recording

Partial filmography

• Hell Divers - 1931
• Airmail - 1932
• Ceiling Zero - 1936 - (Ceiling Zero at the Internet Movie Database)
• Test Pilot - 1938
• The Citadel - 1938
• Dive Bomber - 1941 - (Dive Bomber at the Internet Movie Database
• Destroyer - 1943 - (Destroyer at the Internet Movie Database)
• They Were Expendable - 1945

See also

• Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company

References

External links

• Frank Wead at the Internet Movie Database
• Yahoo! Movies: Frank Wead