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Author
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Topic: Frank Ellis, Navy double amputee (1933-2016)
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ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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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
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posted 04-03-2017 07:21 PM
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GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 04-03-2017 08:00 PM
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capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 04-03-2017 09:03 PM
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Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 04-03-2017 09:45 PM
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randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 04-03-2017 10:00 PM
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David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 04-03-2017 10:48 PM
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Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 04-04-2017 01:29 AM
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1202 Alarm
Member Posts: 436
From: Switzerland & France
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 04-04-2017 05:31 AM
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cfreeze79
Member Posts: 455
From: Herndon, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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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
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posted 04-04-2017 04:34 PM
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Panther494
Member Posts: 402
From: London UK
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 04-04-2017 05:59 PM
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mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 04-05-2017 12:28 AM
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Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-05-2017 07:56 AM
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Grounded!
Member Posts: 367
From: Bennington, Vermont, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 04-05-2017 12:01 PM
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dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 04-10-2017 08:45 PM
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