Frank W. Trojcak

Preferred Name: Frank
Date of Birth: August 16, 1931
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Matagorda, TX

Lt. Col. Frank Trojcak, is a 27-year member of the 149th Fighter Wing who retired in 1986. During his service, he piloted  the F-84, F-86, F-102, F-100, F-4 and F-16, and also the C-47, C-54 and C-131 cargo aircraft, T-29 and T-33 trainers, and a U3A Cessna utility aircraft.

During his time at the TXANG, Colonel Trojcak recalled the ultimately successful effort to obtain the F-16 aircraft for the 182nd Fighter Squadron. Until the mid 1980s, the Air Guard usually received aircraft from the Air Force that had seen better days. This time, the 182nd was one of the first Air National Guard units to receive a front-line, state-of-the-art fighter.

“I adopted the slogan ‘Made in Texas by Texans’ and said ‘Made in Texas and should be flown by Texans,’” said Colonel Trojcak, referring to the fact that the F-16 was manufactured in Fort Worth. He also said he suggested the code “SA” for the tail of the San Antonio unit’s F-16s after another Texas unit had already claimed “TX.”

(source: excerpted from https://www.149fw.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/440921/182nd-fighter-squadron-recalls-legacy/)