David Frawley - Gone West

[ww2John]

...we have lost another warbird elder...maybe he instructed you, or was your warbird PE...

...received from a WB7 e-mail...

"David E. Frawley, 85, of Mattapoisett, a long time Federal Aviation Administra tion pilot examiner and flight instructor whose career spanned more than six decades, died suddenly at home on Friday, December 16, 2005. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1920, he was the son of the late David and Theresa (Hughes) Frawley, he had lived in Mattapoisett since 1960.


Mr. Frawley's love affair with flying began when he was barely school age. One day while at the Seekonk Airport with both his father and uncle, he raced onto the airfield, offering several pilots a dollar if they would give him a ride. A few minutes later he was on his first flight in a Kitty Hawk biplane.

He financed his early flight career by working at Continental Screw. His mother gave him two dollars each week for flying lessons at the Cape Cod Airlines at the Rochester Airport in Rochester, MA. He would take 15 minutes of flight training at a time and then do odd jobs around the airport to buy additional time.

In 1941 the Army Air Corps selected him for pilot training. They sent him to Tufts University and then to Northeastern University to study navigation and engineering. Part of his training included advanced instruction in WACO biplanes and celestial navigation. He graduated in the top three of a class of 400. While in the service he also obtained his flight instructor rating.

Throughout the war, he worked as a flight instructor with the Air Corps until 1944. He continued training pilots and flying aircraft after leaving the Army.

In a career of more than 60 years, Mr. Frawley flew numerous assignments including flying for Basil Brewer, the publisher of the Standard Times, Northeast Airlines and the Boston Red Sox. He was the co-founder and lead flight instructor of MassAir in 1944 which conducted runs from New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Boston and also the co-founder of Southeast Air in 1975. He has taught over 3000 pilots to fly.

He worked for New England Telephone for 41 years.

Up to the time of his death, he was actively engaged in testing pilots in the United States and Europe every year. He often traveled to London, Calais, France, Milan, Italy and Eidenhoven in the Netherlands giving test flights in C-47's, B-25's, PBY's among other aircraft. These aircraft were formerly flown by the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. Afterwards, they were the favorites in air shows around the world. Mr. Frawley also traveled to Spokane, Washington to give flight tests in "water bombers,"
and across the United States to give flight tests in CV-LB30's (B-24), C-47's, B-25's, B-17's, TBM's and L-18's (Lockheed Lodestar). In addition, he traveled to Lake Mead giving flight tests for the Albatross Flying Boats. Many pilots would also come into New Bedford Airport to be "checked out" on the plane they flew in.

Mr. Frawley was a member of the Aeroclub of New England, the second oldest flight club in the world. He received numerous honors and awards. His love of flying was contagious. He generously shared that love with a wide group of friends from many walks of life.

Survivors include a nephew, James M. Buckley of Claymont, Delaware; his cousin, Teresa Buckley of Dartmouth and Teresa's children, Kate Fuhst of Mattapoisett, Eileen Buckley of Dartmouth, Joseph Buckley of Dartmouth and Ann Miller of Mission Viejo, CA.

Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett, Wednesday, December 21st at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Anthony's Church at 10 AM.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

Visiting hours Tuesday, December 20th from 4-7 PM.

Interment St. Mary's Cemetery.

Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Home
50 County Road, Route 6
Mattapoisett, MA USA 02739
508-758-2292