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
Western Air Express
Western Air Express passenger transport (WAE) NC5358 shown departure Tucson-San Francisco as captured by C. B. Cornelius Cosgrove Jr. A gracious thank you to his son Judge Burt Cosgrove of Albuquerque N.M. for the above image. I met with Judge Cosgrove (retired) at the home of Jack and Helen Frye intimate Rosie Targhetta Armijo in 2009. Mr. Cosgrove’s father (C. B. Cornelius Cosgrove, Jr.) was Manager of Tucson Municipal Airport (1928-1932). The photos were captured by Cornelius at that time and kept as a part of his career memoirs, eventually they passed to his son (Burt Cosgrove). The clarity of these images is absolutely stunning and honored Sedona Legend is honored to feature such as a cornerstone of this page!
Jack Frye & partners (Walter Hamilton and Paul Richter) founded Aero Corporation of California, with Standard Airlines soon to follow. Jack Frye was elected to President of the new corporation and would serve on the Board of Directors. Frye was always President and administrator of Standard Airlines. There were many other men involved in this transaction but these three men are always the ones most cited and were always at the operation level. The first Standard Airlines commercial passenger service commenced on November 28, 1927 with Jack Frye Pilot-President
Press Release of the Day:
Aero Corporation of California is the parent company of the oldest commercial flying school on the Pacific Coast (Standard Flying Schools) and holds the Fokker Aircraft distribution agency for the Western United States, operates an aerial photographic and survey section, and complete crop-dusting service
While through Standard Airlines (a subsidiary) it has conducted passenger express service between Los Angeles and El Paso since 1927
Also notated in 1926, was that Frye, President of Aero Corp., Standard Air Lines, and Standard Flying Schools, had completed 10,000 flights without injury to plane or passenger and was the youngest aviation executive in the world. Frye at 25, a pilot since 1924, was said to have flown 62 different varieties of planes in the territories of Canada, Mexico, and 40 of the lower 48 states. Frye held a Transport License issued by the U.S. Government. In addition, the Aeronautical Branch of the Department of Commerce had issued pilot Frye an Aircraft Mechanic’s License and an Aircraft Engine Mechanic’s License. Most prominently though, it was noted that Jack Frye holds aviation license ‘Arizona-Number 1’ the very first to be issued by the State of Arizona (the only state in the union to issue pilot’s licenses). Quite a glowing report to be sure!
Western Air Express- Background in Brief:
Like Frye’s Aero and Standard Airlines, Western Air Express was an aviation concern of great merit. Both companies were the largest and most firmly entrenched on the west coast with Aero handling the first cross-country service in the manner of combining air-rail-line & transport. Western Air Express was founded in 1925 by Harris M. “Pop” Hanshue who later served with TWA, and the airline initiated a U.S. Airmail (contract) route from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. Because Jack Frye was with Western Air Express for such a short time (about 6 months) it is difficult to enhance this tenure with media materials and images. Nevertheless, Jack Frye’s tenure with Western Air Express was a early milestone in his stellar aviation career and a crucial stepping stone to Transcontinental & Western Air. Let’s not forget as well that Western was part of TWA in a soon to follow merger Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc. So, one could say Frye never left Western but continued tenue into a new company through transition, now as (Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.) coined TWA
Western Air Express – Aero Corporation of California – Standard Airlines
Consolidation of Two Powerful Air Transport Concerns:
For the sake of the following overview we’ll first review a media release from January 20, 1930
An agreement was made on January 20, and 21, 1930 to merge Aero Corporation of California with Western Air Express (W.A.E.) to conclude and finalize on March 15, 1930, a move which created a powerful air express and transport company. The two companies were the largest Los Angeles-based air transport concerns of the day, with well-established nation-wide connections and infrastructure. Jack Frye was elected to the Board of Directors and appointed Vice President in Charge of Operations for the (new) W.A.E. Further it was stated on January 20 ‘that a merger with Western Air Express and Aero Corporation of California are being debated today and will likely proceed’, further stated, W.A.E. and ‘Aero had been associated in business for some time’. James A. Talbot (C.E.O of Richfield and Fokker Aircraft) assumed the position of C.E.O of Aero in December 1929. Source: Oakland Tribune (January of 1930)
Aero Corporation Board: Jack Frye, Paul E. Richter, Walter A. Hamilton, Harris M. Hanshue, Frank H. Hitchcock, Guy Witter, Robert L. Chambers, Lawrence G. McNeil
So there we have it, the early overview launch of Western Air Express and the men and circumstances involved
(Above) Western Air Express WAE, Tucson to San Francisco, (TUS-SFO)
Notation: Often press and writers cite Standard Airlines as mis-spell as Standard Air Lines. This need be corrected and can be documented in images of Standard Air fuselage logo in the day. Also notable as seen in rare color newsreel (about 1927) Standard Airlines fleet were painted a Green Gray with Standard Airlines lettering in red. The color rendering of this film appears to be original and not restored (this short will be added soon)
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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