Lockheed Lodestar 18 NC33604 TWA #241 Executive Plane

Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA

The Frye Legacy

A Lifetime of Accomplishment

TWA Executive Plane Lockheed Lodestar 18 NC33604 #241

By Randall Reynolds

Brand New Website Which Visually Documents the Lives of Jack & Helen Frye

This page features extensive information as to Jack’s use of this Lockheed, the documentation is so comprehensive I was not able to include such into my book narrative ‘Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA‘. Page is best viewed on a P.C., Laptop, or Android, set to Desktop View. On an aside, there is so much documentation on the TWA Lockheed Lodestar it too will be extensive when completed.

The Following Page Under Development

TWA Executive transport of President of TWA Jack Frye, 1942 Lockheed Lodestar 18 C56D, C/N 2170, NC33604, TWA Fleet #241, Crew (3) Passengers (14). Width 65 feet, Length 49 feet. At the dawn of 1945, Jack Frye traded his beloved Lockheed 12A NC18137 for a larger more luxurious executive plane, a Lockheed 18. From this point (until 1947) if you spotted a TWA Lodestar 18 arriving or departing, you knew Jack Frye, and his wife Helen, were in town. Fast and sleek, the plane represented Frye and Transcontinental & Western Air with a futuristic flair. Congratulations to Lockheed for creating one of the most beautiful planes ever built! This was the only L18 ever owned by TWA, and it was always designated as Frye’s personal executive plane! The Lodestar was capable of lift-off with full load (17,500 lbs) in 15 seconds (860 feet). Climbing rate was (1200 feet) per minute, 10,000 feet in 6.6 minutes, and a 20,500 feet ceiling. Approach was (50 feet) at (65 m.p.h.). The Lodestar had a rollout at just (600 yards, and 1800 feet). The Lodestar was well-suited for typical paved runways or hard-pack remote dirt landing strips like the Frye’s at Sedona Arizona. Example: Jack had TWA pilots search for Howard Hughes after an accident, eventually, the TWA Lodestar landed on a flat desert area, picked up Hughes, massive engines at idle, and flew him back to the TWA Mansion at Washington D.C. (DCA).

1942 Lockheed Lodestar 18, TWA #241, (above) being serviced and loaded for Jack and Helen Frye and their V.I.P. guests. I was able to purchase this image on E-Bay several years back. What a coup! There are virtually no images of this TWA Lodestar (1945-1947). The person who sold it likely had no idea it was Frye’s executive plane. Image was captured about 1946, or so, and is just a small 3-inch snap shot. This plane was but forgotten and discovered by Sedona Legend Research.

Observations on the above image- the plane is being serviced at what appears to be either MCI or DCA (both home bases for the plane). One ground crew member is standing just inside the passenger door, while another TWA baggage man pauses outside the fuselage with two Frye suitcases. The nose luggage compartment is open, and luggage belonging to Jack and Helen Frye is sitting on an elevated rack- 2 flight trunks and 2 suitcases. The cockpit slider window is open, and you can see a portion of the ‘241’ (which is painted on the nose) right below the round red warning light. Did Jack order NC33604 ready for departure or had he and his passengers already been whisked off by a waiting limo to home or hotel? Looks like a departure loading to me; however, we will never know for sure. Shown in the image are (6) TWA ground crew members. Date is 1946 or 1947, the photo is a treasure, only found at Sedona Legend. Most significant is the lettering on fuselage has been altered (in this image) to display- “Trans World Airline”. (An earlier version of this Lodestar’s TWA lettering is below on this page).

Private TWA Hostess (Stewardess) to Jack Frye (President of TWA) with flight crew. TWA Second Officer Glenn Knudsen (left) and Captain Tommy Tomilinson (right) aside TWA Executive Lodestar.

This was the private executive plane of Jack Frye, long-time president and co-founder of Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. This stunning transport served Frye from December of 1944 to February of 1947 (when Frye resigned from TWA). The original power plants on this ship are unknown; however, later in the plane’s life when it was owned by Morton Salt it was fitted with (2) 1350 H.P. Pratt & Whitney R-1830-94’s, making it extremely fast with speeds up to 250 m.p.h, this from Morton Salt Corporate pilot Herb Garrett. (Image dates to about 1946). FAA records show Jack Frye took possession of his new (reconditioned) Lockheed Lodestar NC 33604 on December 27, 1944. It is safe to assume that the Lodestar was in TWA hands by perhaps early December 1944. The civilian Lodestar had a manufacturing date of May 4, 1942. It was then converted to U.S.A.A.F. (18-01/C-56D-LO) and used lightly in the U.S., as military registration #42-57224, until fall of 1944, when it was converted to civilian use. More research is needed to establish actual transfer dates. As well, I’m still searching for elusive U.S.A.A.F. photos of the plane and additional TWA photos. Originally, the plane was emblazoned with the trademark logo ‘the Transcontinental Line’ but was changed to reflect ‘Trans World Airline’.

The above (3-15-1945) Lockheed factory work-order with paint callouts was for Jack Frye’s personal TWA Lockheed Lodestar NC33604. We have Tim Rathbone to thank for generously sharing them for historical sake. Mr. Rathbone worked for Lockheed about 25 years ago and came across the Burbank sketches after his superiors had requested a spring cleaning. Unfortunately, Lockheed did not have a venue for preserving the discarded paperwork from which the Lodestar work order was found. It is a miracle, after 60-years, that these documents can be shared here, the only historical venue dedicated to the preservation of this famous Lockheed Lodestar NC33604. Many thanks to Tim and his friends for having the insight, one in recognizing a valuable historical document, and secondly, to make sure it was preserved! The NC33604 Lockheed paint shop work order is a treasure of information. In viewing these documents, we can learn exactly what lettering was required by Frye down to the actual color codes! The Transcontinental & Western Air signature color “TWA Red” was envisioned and developed by no other than Jack Frye himself. TWA planes were not emblazoned with just any shade of red, they were all painted with “Sherwin Williams Vermillion Lacquer #32092”. (This per an obscure 1942 Frye profile documenting Jack’s attention to the ‘perfect shade’ of red for his TWA fleet!) As noted in the above work order Jack requested a TWA Arrow painted on the front cargo door. The image (above) shows a similar arrow except that on the Lodestar; the arrow pointed to the front and the wording was not added. On Jack’s Lockheed Electra 12A NC18137, the nose insignia was different, matching the fleet logos of the day. The above logo was used in the mid-1930’s.

President of TWA Jack Frye (1930-1947) and his wife Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye with V.I.P. guests aside his Lockheed Lodestar at Washington D.C. There’s a reason Helen Frye was known as ‘Mrs. TWA’! Talk about class, she was the face of elegance and poise as Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, and later, Mrs. Jack Frye. On Constellation flights back and forth across the nation Helen often assisted TWA Hostesses in serving passengers (and entertaining them), while Jack served as captian, with his flight crew.

Seen (above left) Irma Protzmann Hannegan (wife of Robert Hannegan, U.S. Postmaster General & Chairman of Democratic National Committee), Kathryn Murphy Nunan (wife of Joseph D. Nunan Jr. Internal Revenue Commissioner). President of TWA Jack Frye & wife Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye. Frye private Hostess (Attendant) Harriet Appelwick is seen at doorway. others unknown. Lady next to Helen is thought to be an emissary-diplomat for a country from which Frye was trying to secure TWA routes. Image was taken at the deplaning of a flight with Jack and Helen Frye, the aircraft shown is Frye’s TWA Lockheed Lodestar NC33604. The location was Washington D.C. (Washington National Airport) DCA. The circumstances are not known, another flight close to this timeframe was in connection with a Democratic junket (vacation) the Frye’s took to Florida with Robert Hannegan (Chairman of the Democratic National Committee) and his wife Irma. The passengers shown are some of the most politically connected of the Roosevelt administration. Jack, too, was one of the most powerful men of the Democratic Party in the 1940’s and 1950’s (Roosevelt and Truman administrations). Jack was even asked to run for President of the United States (according to his daughter). Another interesting note on Jack and Helen Frye was that they were invited to White House dinners several times, as testament to this Helen who was endeared to President Roosevelt when he would feed his terrier Fala from the table. Helen was a animal lover and even helped found the Sedona Humane Society! Also it was said Jack Frye was one of the only White House intimates who was allowed access to the Oval Office day or night! The Lodestar could board 14 passengers with 3 crew members (1945). The image (above) was originally a Reni News Photo, but it appears the copyright has not been updated and renewed to our current time frame of 2025; therefore, the image is displayed in accordance with fair use practice and thought to be ‘public domain’. The image is displayed as historically significant and in a manner which does not generate profit, any infringement on the copyright of said is not intentional. On file at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. Truman Library image(s) hold specialized copyrights & usage fees –paid by Sedona Legend.

Private Hostess to TWA President Jack Frye (1930-1947) and Howard Hughes thereafter, shown at entrance to TWA Executive Lodestar 18 NC33604.

This is the ‘NEW’ Sedona Legend Helen Frye – the Camelot Years of TWA website, the original rendition launched in 2003 is no longer supported by host Yahoo GeoCities and has been discontinued. The original website will be rebuilt within these pages. The new revised overview title is now ‘The Sedona Frye TWA Story’ with world URL www.sedonatwa.com. This effort is managed and owned by Sedona Legend Publishing. Herein, you will find a historic perspective of Sedona that was nearly lost to time itself, the real HISTORY of Red Rock State Park, a rich and valuable legacy which must not ever be forgotten or swept under the carpet, a showcase of treasured information and documentation. Sedona’s history with Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA), one of the world’s largest and most beloved airlines and how this association helped put Sedona Arizona on the map! Red Rock State Park, a ‘Crown Jewel’ of the Arizona State Park system and one-time private playground of the rich and famous. Originally owned and discovered in 1941 by one of the most glamorous couples in America and one of the greatest aviation legends this country has ever known! An association so powerful, the original identity of the property will always be known as the Frye ‘Smoke Trail Ranch’ and the ‘TWA Ranch at Sedona’. Dare to delve beneath the surface and discover the hidden and forgotten history of one of the most pristine, beautiful, and priceless real estate parcels of the Southwestern United States and the legendary couple who owned it! This website serves to offer readers of the book “Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA” with images which compliment the biography. Photos were not included in the publication because of copywrite restrictions. An effort will be made to not include a lot of repetitive narrative on these pages as this can be found when reading the book. This website will be updated and refined as time allows, and as well, the layout will be improved in an easy to navigate format. Thiis entry page features the Fryes at the onset of their relationship (as covered in the book). Please click the following link to purchase the Biography-Novel-Love-Story Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA available on Amazon in soft cover or Kindle. This presentation is best viewed on a Personal Computer.

The Sedona Legend Web Site is a copyrighted historical photo enhanced narrative presented for educational and entertainment purposes, some materials may be displayed in regard to the United States Fair Use Act. Sedona Legend was envisioned and created to provide Red Rock State Park visitors with a comprehensive historic overview of the Jack and Helen Frye Deer-Lick and Smoke Trail Ranches. This web portal is totally non-profit and generates no income, nor does it seek, or has it ever accepted, a single donation, it is an independent venture.

Sedona Legend is encouraged by the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye and was in fact launched at Red Rock State Park when volunteering for (two) 6-month sojourns, this presentation is not a disconnected effort. A gracious thank you to the Frye and Varner families for invaluable support and Red Rock State Park staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm, also thanks to the TWA Museum at Kansas City for their dedication to Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. (Trans World Airlines).

Formerly this effort was called Sedona Legend Helen Frye (the Jack & Helen Frye Story)

Order the Biography-Novel on Amazon ‘Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA’

Sedona TWA Online Presentations:

Sedona Legend Entry Page

Standard Airlines – Aero Corporation 1920’s

Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1930’s

Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1940’s

TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Electra 12A

TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Electra 12A Robinson

TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Lodestar 18

TWA Frye Executive Mansion Washington D.C.

Deer-Lick – Smoke Trail Ranches Sedona Arizona 1940’s