Author
|
Topic: Frank Ellis, Navy double amputee (1933-2016)
|
ColinBurgess Member Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 04-03-2017 06:01 PM
I have only just learned of the passing of Lt. Commander Frank K. Ellis, U.S. Navy, on 27 December 2016. Many of you will know this remarkable man's story; he was flying an F-9 Cougar over Los Angeles in 1962 when it suffered engine failure, and though he could have bailed out, he knew his abandoned aircraft would crash into a trailer park. He stayed with it until he had managed to avoid the catastrophe, but bailed out at just 65 feet. As a result he lost both legs below the knees, but was determined to stay in the Navy and retain his flight status, and succeeded, despite wearing prosthetic legs. While studying at postgraduate school he even applied to NASA to become a member of the space agency's Group 5 astronauts, saying, "Ï heard on the radio the other day that the space agency is looking for qualified aviators under 5 feet, 7 inches. I'm the only pilot who can vary his height from 5 feet, 4 inches to 6 feet, 1 inch!" Frank Ellis's memorial service was held at Naval Air Station Pensacola on 6 January. I only knew Frank through a telephone interview I conducted with him last July, but what a mighty, courageous and inspiring man he was. |
MCroft04 Member Posts: 1634 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 04-03-2017 07:21 PM
. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 04-03-2017 08:00 PM
. |
capoetc Member Posts: 2169 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
|
posted 04-03-2017 09:03 PM
. |
Wehaveliftoff Member Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
|
posted 04-03-2017 09:45 PM
. |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 04-03-2017 10:00 PM
. |
David Carey Member Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
|
posted 04-03-2017 10:48 PM
. |
Kite Member Posts: 831 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
|
posted 04-04-2017 01:29 AM
. |
1202 Alarm Member Posts: 436 From: Switzerland & France Registered: Nov 2003
|
posted 04-04-2017 05:31 AM
. |
cfreeze79 Member Posts: 455 From: Herndon, VA, USA Registered: Nov 2000
|
posted 04-04-2017 09:08 AM
.Wish I had heard the story of his life sooner - I would have loved to interview him for a story. Cie la vive. Blue skies and tail winds, sir! |
star51L Member Posts: 340 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
|
posted 04-04-2017 04:34 PM
. |
Panther494 Member Posts: 402 From: London UK Registered: Jan 2013
|
posted 04-04-2017 05:59 PM
. |
mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
|
posted 04-05-2017 12:28 AM
. |
Gilbert Member Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
|
posted 04-05-2017 07:56 AM
. |
Grounded! Member Posts: 367 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
|
posted 04-05-2017 12:01 PM
. |
dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 04-10-2017 08:45 PM
. |