Frank S Wolcott
Military
466th BG Archives
Object Number - UPL 7165 - Lt. Frank Wolcott - 787th BS Operations Officer
Flew 33 missions 5 March 1944 to 23 December 1944. Air offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe
DFC/ Air Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ EAME Ribbon
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Little LuLu
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Billings, Montana | 7 October 1917 | |
|
Died |
Helena, MT, USA | 29 January 2007 | Frank Wolcott died of natural causes Monday evening, Jan. 29, 2007, in Helena. Frank was born Oct. 7, 1917, to Linus and Essie Summers Wolcott in Billings. He attended Billings schools and graduated from Billings High School in 1935. After high school graduation, he was working in his father's shoe store when two buddies stopped in and told him they were going to college and he decided to join them. He later said going to college was the best decision of his life. However, he first had to save some money and worked up at the Fort Peck Dam Project as a soda jerk, where he learned to cook. He then headed off to Bozeman to attend Montana State College, where he majored in agricultural economics and was in ROTC. Frank had a wonderful time in college. He loved dating the girls and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Les Buffons. He was an active alumnus and Bobcat Booster for his entire adult life. Upon graduation from MSC, he reported for active duty at Fort Bliss, Texas, in the Army Air Corps. Before leaving for duty overseas he married a very special girl that he had met at MSC, Betty Lyons on Oct. 4, 1942, in Little Rock Ark. Betty was also a native of Billings and she and Frank's mother rode the train down to Little Rock for the wedding. Soon after his marriage, Frank left for Attelbridge, England, to begin a very important chapter in his life. He was a bomber pilot and flew a B-24 with the 466th Bomber Group. Frank flew 33 missions during World War II, including two missions on D-Day. He later recalled looking down on the swarming troops on the water and beaches. They ended up dropping their bombs further inland so they would not hit the Allied troops. When Frank returned from the war, he and Betty followed Frank's dream to farm and purchased a small farm at the top of Kelly Canyon east of Bozeman, where they farmed and had dairy cows. Although an absolutely beautiful spot, the growing season was too short to support a family and in 1955 Frank began working full time for the Montana National Guard. Frank had several commands until his retirement in 1970. He retired as a full colonel and the regimental commander of the 163rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In April of 1970, Frank became the manager of Gallatin Field airport. During Frank's tenure the existing airport terminal was constructed and new runways were built, expanding the airport to a modern regional airport. During the years up Kelly Canyon, Betty and Frank had their four children. It was a wonderful place to raise a family and those were good years. Frank lost Betty to cancer in 1975. In May 1977, Frank married Phyllis Davis Spragg. Following Frank's retirement from the airport in 1981, Frank and Phyllis spent 25 years wintering in Hawaii where he pursued his love of golf. They traveled extensively overseas, including Singapore, Belize, England and Europe. In the summers, he got to pursue his love of farming on Phyllis' family farm up Spring Hill north of Bozeman. In his later years he was frequently found visiting with friends at neighborhood coffee shops. His pet peeves were expensive liquor and expensive health care products. He and Phyllis recently moved to the Waterford in Helena. Frank led a great life and was a gentleman and a gentle man greatly loved by his family. We will miss him. |
|
Enlisted |
Bozeman, MT, USA | 5 February 2007 | Sunset Hills Cemetery Bozeman Gallatin County Montana, USA |
| Billings, MT, USA | 314 Burlington Avenue |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self & Page 446 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISIONby Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45)
