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

Scahill, Frank J.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Scahill, Frank J.

Frank J. Scahill

Preferred Name: Frank
Date of Birth: April 17, 1939
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Peoria, IL
Headed West Date: July 17, 2019
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

“Frank served in the Air National Guard and the Air Force. In 1963, he began his career in commercial aviation at Frontier Airlines. After just a few months he left to join Trans World Airlines (TWA), where he was quickly promoted to captain and served for 35 years.

He flew everything from Cessnas to fighter jets (F-84F and F-100) to jet airliners (747, L1011, 767, 757, 707, CV880, 727, and DC9). After retiring from TWA in 1999, he concluded the last 7 years of his career at Netjets flying corporate/private jets.”(1)

Source: (1) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/burbank-ca/frank-scahill-8781929

Units Assigned

  • CTANG (F-100A)
  • NJANG (F-100C)
  • MOANG (F-100C)

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-84F
F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • Spaulding Institute
  • Bradley University

Frank J. Scahill, USAF/ANG pilot, “Headed West” on June 17, 2019.

On Tuesday, July 17, 2019, Frank J. Scahill, Sr., loving husband and father, passed away peacefully at the age of 80. Born in Peoria, IL, Frank flew his first plane at the age of 15 and joined the Civil Air Patrol. After graduation from Spaulding Institute and completing coursework at Bradley University, Frank served in the Air National Guard and Air Force.

In 1963, he began his career in commercial aviation at Frontier Airlines. After just a few months he left to join Trans World Airlines (TWA), where he was quickly promoted to captain and served for 35 years. He flew everything from Cessnas to fighter jets (F-84F and F-100) to jet airliners (747, L1011, 767, 757, 707, CV880, 727, and DC9). After retiring from TWA in 1999, he concluded the last 7 years of his career at Netjets flying corporate/private jets.

Frank and his wife, Bonnie, married in 1967 and began their life in Elgin, IL. They then moved to Kansas City, MO and in 1979 they relocated to New Fairfield, CT, where they resided for 32 years. In New Fairfield, Frank was a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Lion’s Club. Frank and Bonnie then moved to Guilford, CT, where they lived until Bonnie’s passing in 2012. Frank then relocated to Burbank in southern California.

In addition to flying, Frank had a lifelong love of jokes, Irish music, and family trips. He was generous, had a kind heart and cherished swapping stories with everyone he met in his travels.

Frank was predeceased by his father, Frank Scahill, his mother, Wilma McMahon, his stepfather, Fred McMahon, and his beloved wife, Bonnie Scahill. He is survived by his children Frank, Jr., Mary (Matt Guarino), Catherine, Melissa, and Jacqueline (Powell Browne), his granddaughter, Madeline Browne, as well as his brother Fred McMahon (Jeanne) and sister Nancy Donovan (Michael).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support research on frontotemporal dementia at UCLA. Please visit http://giving.ucla.edu/scahill, select “Alzheimer’s Program” from the drop-down menu, and indicate your donation is in memory of Frank. To donate via check, payable to “UCLA Foundation”, please send to: Elizabeth Naito, UCLA Health Sciences Development, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, PVUB 3132, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

A Funeral Mass [was] held on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 10:00am at Saint Finbar Catholic Church

2010 W. Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA 91506. A memorial service [was held] held in Connecticut later [that] year.

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