Frank Wead - Legacy

Legacy

On 17 November 1947, the Associated Press reported Frank Wead's death.

Santa Monica, Calif. Nov. 17- (AP) – Frank Wead, 52, of Los Angeles, naval aviator in World War I who became a film writer died Saturday night in Santa Monica hospital which he entered Nov. 1 for surgery ... Wead, who was born in Peoria, Ill., fell at home in 1927, fracturing his neck and sustaining paralysis after which he retired from the Navy. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Doris (William) Copley of San Diego, Calif., daughter-in-law of the late publisher, Col. Ira C. Copley, and Mrs. Lila Ployardt of North Hollywood, Calif.; by his divorced wife, Mrs. Minnie Wead, La Jolla, Calif., and by two brothers DeForest Wead of Peoria, and David Wead, Oswego, Ill. . After funeral services Tuesday the body will be taken to Peoria for burial."

John Ford directed The Wings of Eagles in 1957, portraying Wead's contributions to Naval aviation. John Wayne was cast as Wead, Ken Curtis as John Dale Price, and Ward Bond played director Ford in the thinly-disguised pseudonymous character of John Dodge. Maureen O'Hara held the role of Mrs. Minnie "Min" (Bryant) Wead (9 December 1891 in Colorado-21 January 1952 in Los Angeles), Frank's wife.

For her part in the MGM film The Wings of Eagles, Maureen O'Hara was crowned "Miss Naval Aviation of 1957" at the annual Naval Aviation Cadet Recruiting Officers' Convention at the Lafayette Hotel, in Long Beach, California, February 1957. Shortly after, at another MGM publicity event held in Norfolk, Virginia, naval cadets of the Aviation Cadet Barracks crowned Ms. O'Hara as "Miss Valentine". O'Hara in turn presented the NavCad Victory Cup to Commander Tom Cates for outstanding cadet procurement during Fiscal Year 1956. This cup was originally presented to the Navy by the Chance Vought Aircraft Corporation to be awarded to the top NavCad procurement team in America.