Frank M. Hadl, Jr.

Preferred Name: Frank

Nickname/Call Sign: Frank

Date Of Birth: November 3, 1933

Highest Military Grade Held: Lieutenant Colonel, O5

Hometown: Nazareth, PA

  • Frank Hadl - before
  • Frank Hadl - now

Biography

With only 282 hours in the Hun, I feel proud to be listed with the pilots who have accomplished much more with this marvelous flying machine. I loved every minute and really learned how to fly with the Hun.

I flew the “A” model, but only in training at Nellis to check out in the HUN. From Nellis I went to George and we flew the “C” model.  I was there only about 18 months, SAC got a hold of me to fly the B-47…  I was a mean disgruntled fighter jock!!!   To say the least…

The B-47 was an experience – educational and stressful during the Cold War. The C-124 was a good “old Shaky” workhorse, and the C-141 was a “Cadillac”! I considered the T-39 a twin-engined F-86!

Thanks to the Air Force for an exciting career and the opportunities to meet and make many lasting, faithful friends – the likes of which cannot be made anywhere else. After retiring in 1983, I continued flying an additional 15 years in single and twin-engined recip aircraft – charter service with Moyer Aviation at Mount Pocono. PA.  In 1998, I fully retired to the Pocono Mountains near Saylorsburg, PA.

Units Assigned

  • 11/1955-6/1956 Pilot Training, Class 57-D, Mission, TX (T-34, T-28)
  • 6/1956-11/1956 Pilot Training, Class 57-D, Laredo, TX (T-33)
  • 11/1956-6/1957 Gunnery Training, Luke AFB, AZ/Nellis AFB, NV ( F-84F, F-100A)
  • 6/1957-9/1958 434th Fighter-Day Squadron, George AFB, CA (F-100C)
  • 9/1958-8/1962 384th Bomber Wing & 70th Bomber Wing, Little Rock AFB, AR (B-47E)
  • 9/1962-4/1964 307th Bomber Wing, Lincoln, NE (B-47E)
  • 4/1964-4/1967 22nd Tactical Combat Squadron, Tachikawa, Japan (C-124)
  • 5/1967-10/1971 31st MAS/20th MAS/Dover AFB, DE (C-124, C-141)
  • 10/1971-10/1972 Fighter Div Staff, HQ 7th AF, Saigon, Vietnam
  • 11/1972-11/1975 449th CSG, Kincheloe, MI
  • 11/1975-8/1979 86th CSG, Ramstein AB, Germany
  • 8/979-108/1983 AirOps Off, 76th ABG, Andrews AFB, MD (T-39)

Awards & Decorations

 Bronze Star Medal
 Air Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters)
 Air Force Commendation Medal
 Oustanding Unit Medal (with 4 oak leaf clusters)
 Combat Readiness Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
 Expeditionary Forces Service Medal
 Vietnam Service Medal (with 5 oak leaf clusters)
 USAF Longevity Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
 Small Arms Marksmanship Medal
 Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with palm device)
Vietnam Campaign Meda

Flight Info

T-28
T-34
T-39
F-84 F
F-100 A/C
B-47 E
C-124
C-141

Military Education

  • SOS
  • Class 62-B 1975 ICAF
  • Correspondence

Civilian Education

  • BS/Chemistry, St. Joseph’s College, Philadelphia, PA
Biography

Biography

With only 282 hours in the Hun, I feel proud to be listed with the pilots who have accomplished much more with this marvelous flying machine. I loved every minute and really learned how to fly with the Hun.

I flew the “A” model, but only in training at Nellis to check out in the HUN. From Nellis I went to George and we flew the “C” model.  I was there only about 18 months, SAC got a hold of me to fly the B-47…  I was a mean disgruntled fighter jock!!!   To say the least…

The B-47 was an experience – educational and stressful during the Cold War. The C-124 was a good “old Shaky” workhorse, and the C-141 was a “Cadillac”! I considered the T-39 a twin-engined F-86!

Thanks to the Air Force for an exciting career and the opportunities to meet and make many lasting, faithful friends – the likes of which cannot be made anywhere else. After retiring in 1983, I continued flying an additional 15 years in single and twin-engined recip aircraft – charter service with Moyer Aviation at Mount Pocono. PA.  In 1998, I fully retired to the Pocono Mountains near Saylorsburg, PA.

Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info

Units Assigned

  • 11/1955-6/1956 Pilot Training, Class 57-D, Mission, TX (T-34, T-28)
  • 6/1956-11/1956 Pilot Training, Class 57-D, Laredo, TX (T-33)
  • 11/1956-6/1957 Gunnery Training, Luke AFB, AZ/Nellis AFB, NV ( F-84F, F-100A)
  • 6/1957-9/1958 434th Fighter-Day Squadron, George AFB, CA (F-100C)
  • 9/1958-8/1962 384th Bomber Wing & 70th Bomber Wing, Little Rock AFB, AR (B-47E)
  • 9/1962-4/1964 307th Bomber Wing, Lincoln, NE (B-47E)
  • 4/1964-4/1967 22nd Tactical Combat Squadron, Tachikawa, Japan (C-124)
  • 5/1967-10/1971 31st MAS/20th MAS/Dover AFB, DE (C-124, C-141)
  • 10/1971-10/1972 Fighter Div Staff, HQ 7th AF, Saigon, Vietnam
  • 11/1972-11/1975 449th CSG, Kincheloe, MI
  • 11/1975-8/1979 86th CSG, Ramstein AB, Germany
  • 8/979-108/1983 AirOps Off, 76th ABG, Andrews AFB, MD (T-39)

Awards & Decorations

 Bronze Star Medal
 Air Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters)
 Air Force Commendation Medal
 Oustanding Unit Medal (with 4 oak leaf clusters)
 Combat Readiness Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
 Expeditionary Forces Service Medal
 Vietnam Service Medal (with 5 oak leaf clusters)
 USAF Longevity Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
 Small Arms Marksmanship Medal
 Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with palm device)
Vietnam Campaign Meda

Flight Info

T-28
T-34
T-39
F-84 F
F-100 A/C
B-47 E
C-124
C-141

Military Education

  • SOS
  • Class 62-B 1975 ICAF
  • Correspondence

Civilian Education

  • BS/Chemistry, St. Joseph’s College, Philadelphia, PA
Photos