Skip to content

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

Read More »
Main Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact

Gailer, Frank L.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Gailer, Frank L.

Frank Lewis Gailer

Preferred Name: Frank
Date of Birth: November 13, 1923
Highest Military Grade: 0-7 – Brigadier General
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
Headed West Date: September 6, 2018
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album

During WWII, Frank Gailer was credited with 5.5 kills, plus one destroyed on the ground.

Frank Gailer was posted to England, joining the 357th Fighter Group at Leiston. Flying with the 363rd FS he went into combat in August 1944, and in the next few months destroyed 6 enemy aircraft before being shot down in November 1944. Captured by the Germans, he was interned in Stalag 1.

Official Biography:

Frank’s last assignment was as a BGen and vice commander of Third Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Third Air Force, with Headquarters located at South Ruislip Air Station, Middlesex, England, is primarily a tactical fighter and reconnaissance force of the U.S. Air Force which is based in Great Britain and committed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Frank was born in Bakersfield, Calif., in 1923. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to New York, finally settling in Great Neck, Long Island. He graduated from Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Va., in 1941, and attended Hofstra College, Hempstead, N.Y., until June 1942. He then entered the aviation cadet program and received pilot training at Parks Air College, Garden City, Kan., and Eagle Pass, Texas, where he earned his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant.

In September 1943 he was assigned to Columbia Army Air Base, S.C., for tactical training in the B-25 aircraft and in February 1944 was transferred to P-40 training at Thomasville, Ga. In July 1944 he joined the 357th Fighter Group in England as a P-51 pilot. Flying with the 363rd Fighter Squadron, he was credited with destroying 6 1/2 enemy aircraft before he was shot down in November 1944 and interned by the Germans as a prisoner of war in Stalag One.

He returned to the United States in 1945; and until June 1946, he served as base flight operations officer at Selfridge Field, Mich. He went to the Panama Canal Zone as a squadron commander in the 6th Fighter Wing. From February 1949 until June 1954, he served as the Group operations officer and then deputy commander of the 6570th Chemical and Ordnance Test Group, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

In February 1955 he was assigned the U.S. Air Force Mission to Uruguay as the jet fighter adviser. From December 1958 until June 1962 he served as chief, Latin American Missions Branch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. From July 1962 until July 1963, he served as an action officer in the Office of the Special Assistant for Military Assistance Affairs, with the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He attended the National War College, Washington, D.C., graduating in June 1964. From there he served as deputy commander for operations, 3640th Pilot Training Wing, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. In January 1966 he was assigned as the first commander of the newly organized 3630th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. From August 1967 to July 1968, he was assigned to the National War College as a faculty member.

In September 1968 he assumed command of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phan Rang Air Base, Vietnam.

Frank arrived at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, in September 1969 as commander of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was named vice commander of the Third Air Force with headquarters at South Ruislip Air Station, Middlesex, England, in February 1970.

Frank is a member of the American Fighter Aces Association, Pi Sigma Alpha, (the National Political Sciences Honor Society) and holds a bachelor of science degree, 1953, and a master of arts degree in international affairs, 1960, from the University of Maryland. He has also completed an additional 30 semester hours of study toward his doctorate of philosophy degree. His article “USAF Mission in Latin America,” was published in the Air University Quarterly Review, fall 1961.

He is a command pilot with more than 6,100 flying hours, including more than 2,000 hours in both conventional and jet fighter aircraft, and more than 500 combat hours. He completed 235 combat missions in the F-100 Super Sabre over the Republic of Vietnam. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 20 oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, and the Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Second Class from the government of the Republic of Vietnam.

Units Assigned

  • 9/ 1943 Pilot training, Columbia Army AB, SC (B-25)
  • 2/1944 Pilot training, Thomasville, GA (P-40)
  • 7/1944 363rd Fighter Squadron/357th Fighter Group, England (P-51 – 6 ½ enemy aircraft destroyed)
  • 11/1944 Shot down, interned by the Germans as a prisoner of war in Stalag One.
  • 1945 returned to US
  • 1945-6/1946 Base flight operations officer,  Selfridge Field, MI
  • 6/1946-2/1949 6th Fighter Wing, Squadron commander, Panama Canal Zone
  • 2/1949-6/1954 6570th Chemical and Ordnance Test Group, Operations officer/Deputy commander, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
  • 2/ 1955 USAF Mission to Uruguay, Jet fighter adviser
  • 12/1958-6/1962 HQ USAF, Chief, Latin American Missions Branch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations,
  • 7/ 1962-7/1963 Action officer, Office of the Special Assistant for Military Assistance Affairs, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • 7/1963-6/1964 National War College, Washington, DC
  • 6/1964 3640th Pilot Training Wing, Deputy commander for operations, Laredo AFB, TX
  • 1/1966 Flying Training Wing, Commander, Sheppard AFB, TX
  • 8/1967-7/1968 National War College, Faculty
  • 9/1968 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam (F-100 – 235 missions)
  • 9/1969 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander, Lakenheath RAFB, England
  • 2/1970 3rd Air Force, Vice Commander, South Ruislip Air Station, England

Awards & Decorations

Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
Air Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Ribbon 2nd Class
Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Second Class

Flight Info

B-25
P-40
P-51
F-100

Flight hours: 2,000 conventional and jet fighter aircraft, 500+ combat hours

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 6/1942 Aviation Cadets, Parks Air College, KS/Eagle Pass, TX
  • 1967-1968 National War College

Civilian Education:

  • 1941 Staunton Military Academy
  • 1942 Hofstra College, Hempstead, N.Y., until June 1942
  • 1953 BS, University of MD
  • 1960 MA/International Affairs, University of Maryland
  • 30 semester hours toward his doctorate of philosophy degree

Frank L. Gailer, BGen USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on September 6, 2018.

Frank was born in Bakersfield, Calif., in 1923. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to New York, finally settling in Great Neck, Long Island. He graduated from Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Va., in 1941, and attended Hofstra College, Hempstead, N.Y., until June 1942. He then entered the aviation cadet program and received pilot training at Parks Air College, Garden City, Kan., and Eagle Pass, Texas, where he earned his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant.

In September 1943 he was assigned to Columbia Army Air Base, S.C., for tactical training in the B-25 aircraft and in February 1944 was transferred to P-40 training at Thomasville, Ga. In July 1944 he joined the 357th Fighter Group in England as a P-51 pilot. Flying with the 363rd Fighter Squadron, he was credited with destroying 6 1/2 enemy aircraft before he was shot down in November 1944 and interned by the Germans as a prisoner of war in Stalag One.

He returned to the United States in 1945; and until June 1946, he served as base flight operations officer at Selfridge Field, Mich. He went to the Panama Canal Zone as a squadron commander in the 6th Fighter Wing. From February 1949 until June 1954, he served as the Group operations officer and then deputy commander of the 6570th Chemical and Ordnance Test Group, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

In February 1955 he was assigned the U.S. Air Force Mission to Uruguay as the jet fighter adviser. From December 1958 until June 1962 he served as chief, Latin American Missions Branch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. From July 1962 until July 1963, he served as an action officer in the Office of the Special Assistant for Military Assistance Affairs, with the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He attended the National War College, Washington, D.C., graduating in June 1964. From there he served as deputy commander for operations, 3640th Pilot Training Wing, Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. In January 1966 he was assigned as the first commander of the newly organized 3630th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. From August 1967 to July 1968, he was assigned to the National War College as a faculty member.

In September 1968 he assumed command of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phan Rang Air Base, Vietnam.

Frank arrived at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, in September 1969 as commander of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was named vice commander of the Third Air Force with headquarters at South Ruislip Air Station, Middlesex, England, in February 1970.

Frank is a member of the American Fighter Aces Association, Pi Sigma Alpha, (the National Political Sciences Honor Society) and holds a bachelor of science degree, 1953, and a master of arts degree in international affairs, 1960, from the University of Maryland. He has also completed an additional 30 semester hours of study toward his doctorate of philosophy degree. His article “USAF Mission in Latin America,” was published in the Air University Quarterly Review, fall 1961.

He is a command pilot with more than 6,100 flying hours, including more than 2,000 hours in both conventional and jet fighter aircraft, and more than 500 combat hours. He completed 235 combat missions in the F-100 Super Sabre over the Republic of Vietnam. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 20 oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, and the Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Second Class from the government of the Republic of Vietnam.

General Gailer is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Gailer P 51
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
Click To View

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2025 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top