Frank Wead

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Frank Wilber "Spig" Wead (October 24, 1895 - November 15, 1947) U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II.

A 1917 graduate of the Naval Academy, began to promote Naval Aviation after World War I Frank "Spig" Wead through air racing and speed competitions. This competition, mainly against the United States Army (and their leader Jimmy Doolittle), helped push U.S. military aviation forward. These competitions would give military aviation a much-needed spotlight in the public eye. The public attention that it generated helped push Congress to fund the advancement of military aviation. During World War I, he served on an older cruiser which was blockading Mexico following the famed "Z" telegram. After WWI he was a test pilot for the Navy.

In September of 1923 Wead was a member of the United States Navy team that traveled to Cowes England to compete in the Schneider Cup Race (Jacques Schneider Maritime Seaplane Trophy). The Schneider Cup (or Schneider Trophy), which was named for the French aviation enthusiast, started in Monaco in 1913. This most prestigious seaplane racing cup resided in Europe until 1923 when Lieutenant David Rittenhouse won the race and brought the cup home to the United States for the Navy team.

On the 22nd and 23rd of June 1924 in Anacostia, D.C., as a lieutenant, Wead along with Lieutenant John Dale Price, using a Curtis CS-2 with a Wright T-3 Tornado engine, would set new Class C seaplane records for distance (963.123 miles), duration (13 hours-23 minutes-15 seconds), and three speed records (73.41 mph for 500 kilometers)(74.27 mph for 1000k)(74.17 mph for 1500k). Lieutenants Wead and Price would strike again on the 11th and 12th of July 1924, with new Class C seaplane records for distance (994.19 miles) and duration (14 hours-53 minutes-44 seconds) using a CS-2 with a Wright Tornado engine. In order to set these records, Wead and Price had to exchange positions at the controls, as the aircraft had only one set of controls. One of the pair would leave the navigator/spotter position, climb out of the plane and slide along the hull on a small rail. The two would both occupy the pilots seat as one slid into place and the other slide out, then exited the aircraft and moved to the navigators position.

Wead would have no doubt continued to be an excellent naval aviator, as a squadron commander, had it not been for a tragic accident. In April of 1926 he was resting upstairs and heard one of his daughters scream, he then rushed downstairs and tripped breaking his neck. The fall resulted in paralysis. While convalescing, at the encouragement of his Navy friends, Wead began writing.

Writing would turn into a second, and even more important, career for him. It would be the promotion of naval aviation through the pen and screen. This second, unforeseen, career would be his true position of importance in promoting Naval aviation, far more important than his endeavors as a pilot. Wead's writings would lead him to Hollywood and the eventual friendship and collaboration with director John Ford. Wead would receive two Academy Award nominations in 1938, one for Best Original Story for Test Pilot and a second for Best Screenplay for The Citadel.

Wead also wrote for leading magazines (The Saturday Evening Post and The American Magazine), and he was published writer of at least two books, including: "Ceiling Zero" (1936), and "Gales, Ice and Men" (1937). He later adapted Ceiling Zero into both a Broadway play and a feature film. He befriended writer Jack Woodford when they were both under contract at M.G.M. in Hollywood.

Wead returned to the Navy during World War II and helped integrate the use of escort carriers to support the main battle line and beach landings. Frank Wead died in 1947.

John Ford would eventually be persuaded to make a movie about Wead, The Wings of Eagles (1957), and would cast John Wayne to play the part of Commander Frank "Spig" Wead. John Dale Price was played by Ken Curtis. Ward Bond would play director Ford in the character of John Dodge. Mrs. Minnie "Min" (Bryant) Wead (Frank's wife) is played by Maureen O'Hara.

Frank A. Andrews book "Dirigible" (New York: A. L. Burt Co. 1931), is based on the Columbia Picture screenplay by Lieut. Commander Frank Wilber Wead.