Frank A. Dixon ’20

WWI PILOT Frank A. Dixon, 95, a longtime resident of Chicago, died at his winter home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., June 18, 1992. He graduated in 1921, because of his service in WWI. As a freshman, he and several other students is were instrumental in starting the Princeton Flying Club, with two JN4 Curtiss planes donated by millionaire Ogden Mills. He graduated from the first groundschool aviation class at Princeton. After enlisting, he was sent overseas with the Mayor LaGuardia detachment, where he continued his flight training in England with the Royal Flying Corps (later the R.A.F.) at Oxford. After receiving his wings and being commissioned a First lieutenant in France, he was assigned to the 209th Royal Naval Air Service, which was at the British front flying Sopwith Camels. Later he joined the 17th Squadron of the R ' F ' C., on he British front. During his extensive combat duty, he was shot down once. He was officially credited with shooting down two German airplanes on Aug. 24, 1918. In Nov. 1918, he moved to the American sector near Tout, France, where he was assigned to the Fourth U.S. Pursuit Group, flying Spad IIIs on the American front. He received the WWI victory medal with four battle clasps and two gold chevrons.

Prior to America's entry into WWII, he was commissioned as a major to the U.S. Material Command. He expedited the building of the B29 at Detroit's Willow Run plant; was the U.S.A.A.E representative at Republic Aviation's plant in Evansville, Ind., during the building of the P47; and finally, became regional representative of the Material Command in Chicago, where he was discharged as a colonel in the U.S.A.F.

Frank was a member of Campus Club and had a lifelong commitment to Princetonhe never missed a reunion. In his later years he was president of the Class of 1920.

He is survived by his widow, Helen, and his son Frank A. Jr. His eldest son, John I. '48, died in 1980. He is also survived by three grandsons and many greatgrandchildren.

The Class of 1920 extends its deepest sympathy to Helen and the family.

The Class of 1920