Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA
Frye Aviation Legacy
Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. Trans World Airlines TWA
By Randall Reynolds
To purchase my Biography-Love Story (seen above) please click: Jack & Helen Frye Story – the Camelot Years of TWA which is available on Amazon in Softcover or Kindle
TWA President Jack Frye Executive Plane Lockheed Lodestar 18
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 anywhere in the United States you knew Jack Frye and his glamorous 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 just a small 3-inch snapshot. This plane was virtually forgotten but 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)
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) while Jack served as caption with his flight crew (1946)
V.I.P. flight political guests (right to 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 TWA Private Hostess (Attendant Stewardess) Harriet Appelwick is seen in doorway, others are unknown. The lady next to Helen, though, is thought to be an emissary-diplomat for a country which Frye was trying to secure TWA routes from. Image was taken at the deplaning of a flight with Jack and Helen Frye, the aircraft shown is Frye’s Private TWA Lockheed Lodestar NC33604. The location was Washington D.C. (Washington National Airport) DCA. The circumstances are not known, however, 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) in the 1950’s. Another interesting note on Jack and Helen Frye were they were invited to White House dinners several times. As testament to this, Helen 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 the only White House intimate who was allowed access to the Oval Office day or night! The Lodestar could board 14-passengers with 3-crew members (1945). The image cited was originally a Reni News Photo but appears copyright has not been updated or 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
President of TWA Jack Frye with wife Helen at Albuquerque New Mexico airport. TWA Hostess Harriet Appelwick is shown with V.I.P. guests (1946). This image was titled ‘reunions’
Santa Fe, New Mexico, meeting with House of Apache Fire architect John Gaw Meems (right). Frye private flight attendant Harriet (center) and Mrs. Jack Frye (Helen) in mink coat (right)
Private TWA Hostess (Stewardess) to Jack Frye (President of TWA) with flight crew (above). TWA Second Officer Glenn Knudsen (left) and Captain Tommy Tomlinson (right) aside TWA Executive Lodestar (1946). All these flight operatives were close friends
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 executive 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’s a miracle after 60-years that these documents can be shared here, the only historical venue dedicated to the preservation of this famous TWA NC 33604 Lockheed Lodestar 18. 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
Miss Appelwick was not only private flight attendant to TWA President Jack Frye (1945-1947), but as well, Howard Hughes (1947-). When Jack left TWA in 1947, Howard used the Lodestar for his private plane. Harriet had many stories to tell about her experiences with this eccentric billionaire, to include waiting with flight crew for hours on the tarmac waiting for a late Hughes
Vacation to Frye Ranch at Sedona Arizona (July 4th, 1946) the Frye’s fly over to have lunch on Whiskey Row, Prescott Arizona. (Seen) Jack and Helen Frye and TWA Flight Attendant Harriet with her friend Yanks (overview in my book)
Hollis was close to her fellow flight crew shown here with TWA Second Officer Glenn Knudsen (about 1946)
Serving as private Hostess for President of TWA Jack Frye and his wife Helen Vanderbilt had its privileges as in this TWA L-18 cheesecake tail perch (1945-1947)
I’ve had much contact with TWA Hostesses flight attendants but Harriet was the most glamorous and at this juncture little did she know soon she would serve as stewardess for TWA President Jack Frye and Howard Hughes. Images of Harriet training as a Trans Continental Western Air Hostess (flight attendant) shared as follows
TWA training Center Kansas City, everyone young girl’s dream, but can you pass the strict guidelines
Early Airport Codes as used in the 1940’s. When I worked for UAL (United Airlines) I had to memorize 100’s of current UAL hub codes for the United States and around the world, my classes took three weeks and at the end a day-long written test. Out of a hundred students I was one of three which achieved 100 percent, I was very proud of that. If you didn’t receive at least 80 percent you looked for a position with another airline. At that time I was offered a position with Qantas but declined as I would of had to relocate to Sydney and didn’t want to leave the country
Helen and Harriet sightseeing at the Grand Canyon (above and below) this was one of the Lodestar trips to Santa Fe. Certainly not one of the best renditions but a moment captured in time nevertheless, I am working on obtaining better scans of these images. The Fryes were planning a home at Sedona Arizona with renowned architect John Gaw Mean at Santa Fe, this dwelling would be at the end called ‘House of Apache Fire’. Jack’s Lockheed 12a and his Lodestar 18 were frequently seen at the Santa Fe airport.
The following Lodestar images are not connected with TWA but are shared here from the Sedona TWA archive. The reason they are displayed is in reference to the Frye Lodestar 18. The first image shows a Lodestar in flight, this can give one a idea of what TWA NC 33604 appeared as flying over the Sierras which was a regular overflight by Jack Frye. The second, displays a Lodestar with engines running, the third, a Lodestar parked on tarmac. Wish I could purchase images of TWA NC 33604 in flight or idling at an airport, but such images are quite rare
Sedona TWA Online Presentations:
Standard Airlines – Aero Corporation 1920’s
Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1930’s
TWA President Jack Frye Northrop Gamma 2D
Transcontinental & Western Air TWA 1940’s
A-Broad With Eleven Yanks – A Memorial to Boeing Superfortress 42-24698
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 Executive Mansion Doubleday Washington D.C.
Winslow Airport TWA Hub & Cross-Country Service
Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. (Helen and Neil)
Sedona Frye Tumblr Blog
The Sedona Legend Web Site is a copyrighted historic photo enhanced narrative presented for educational and entertainment purposes. Images are displayed in regard to the United States Fair Use Act and private archives. Sedona Legend was envisioned and created to provide Red Rock State Park visitors with a comprehensive historic overview of Jack and Helen Frye’s Sedona ranches and Jack Frye’s involvement with Standard Airlines and TWA. Sedona TWA is totally non-profit and generates no income, nor does it seek, or has it ever accepted a single donation, it is independently funded by Sedona Legend Publishing. This online presentation is encouraged by the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye and was launched at Sedona’s Red Rock State Park as result of volunteering for (two) 6-month sojourns. A gracious thank you to Red Rock State Park staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm and the Frye and Varner families for their invaluable support
23-years of Research & Presentation
Created By Randall D. Reynolds (Sedona Legend Publishing)
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