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This Day in History – June 10, 1969 – The X-15 gets a place in history

10 June 1969: The U.S. Air Force donated the first North American Aviation X-15, serial number 56-6670, to the Smithsonian Institution for display at the National Air and Space Museum. The first of three X-15A hypersonic research rocketplanes built by North American for the Air Force and the National Advisory Committee (NACA, the predecessor of NASA), 56-6670 made the first glide flight and

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Frank, Vernon E.

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  • Frank, Vernon E.

Vernon Eugene Frank

Preferred Name: Gene
Date of Birth: February 19, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Annutt/Rolla, MO
Headed West Date: March 21, 2014
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Vernon “Gene” Frank, Vernon (Gene) grew up in Rolla, Missouri and attended Missouri School of Mines at Rolla graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He then went on to serve in the Unites States Air Force as a jet fighter pilot completing more than 100 missions over North Vietnam and retired as Lt Col. He was a resident of Reeds Spring Missouri area for approximately the last 22 years.

Units Assigned

  • Vietnam -100 missions

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Air Medal

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • BS/Civil Engineering, Missouri School of Mines at Rolla

Vernon Eugene Frank, LtCol USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on March 21, 2014.

Vernon Eugene Frank- February 19, 1933 – March 21, 2014
Vernon (Gene) was born February 19, 1933 in Annutt, Missouri, the son of Vernon Jacob Frank and Edna Mable Keeton Frank. He grew up in Rolla, Missouri and attended Missouri School of Mines at Rolla graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

He then went on to serve in the Unites States Air Force as a jet fighter pilot completing more than 100 missions over North Vietnam and retired as Lt Col. He was a resident of Reeds Spring Missouri area for approximately the last 22 years.

He is survived by his son, Gregory A. Frank (Laura) of Las Vegas Nevada, two siblings – sister Carolyn K. Robinson (Dwight) of Rolla Missouri, brother Jerry L. Frank (Amy) of Decatur Alabama, two grandchildren – Jason Baker (Jody), Jenna Frank, and two great grandchildren Jacob & Addison Baker. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Teresa Henrietta Ambler Frank, son William Jacob Frank, sister Anna May, and brother James Arthur Frank.

Graveside Services for Vernon Eugene Frank, age 81 of Reeds Spring, MO. will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield. Arrangements are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home of Branson.
He died at 12:30 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2014 at Table Rock Healthcare in Kimberling City, Mo.

Source:  https://greenlawnfuneralhome.com/obituary/vernon-eugene-frank/

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