Frank S. Scott
Encyclopedia
Corporal Frank S. Scott (December 2, 1883–September 28, 1912) was the first enlisted
member of the United States armed forces
to lose his life in an aircraft accident
.
, Scott was orphan
ed in 1889 after his parents died in the Johnstown Flood
; he was thereafter raised by an aunt.
in 1908 in the Field Artillery
branch of the US Army
. Scott later cross-trained into the Signal Corps in 1911. In July 1911, Scott began suffering from a lengthy unknown illness and upon recovery was deemed unfit for his current duties and was forthwith transferred to College Park
Flying Field. After arriving at his assignment, Scott discovered a penchant for mechanical engineering
and was reassigned from his duties of releasing hot air balloon
s to becoming chief mechanic
for one of the Type-B Wright biplane
s assigned to the Field.
On September 27, 1912, Scott was promised a ride in one of Flying Field's airplane
s by First Lieutenant Lewis C. Rockwell. Retired Captain Bernard Rome spoke with Corporal Scott the same day and noted that "He was in high spirits when I spoke to him," and that, with regards to his flight the next day, "...Scott jokingly referred to himself as 'ballast'." Corporal Scott had secured the ride on the aircraft as opposed to what would normally be an officer
's position because of his low weight — having never fully recovered from his illness of 1911.
The next day, Lieutenant Rockwell test-flew the plane alone to ensure proper functioning; after reaching 40 miles per hour (17.9 m/s) and assured that the aircraft was functioning properly, the Lieutenant landed and picked up Corporal Scott. The takeoff
and flight itself were uneventful as the small craft flew at an altitude of 150 feet (45.7 m) for about ten minutes. However, when attempting to land the plane, Lieutenant Rockwell begin to develop problems with the engine; the 30 hp engine failed sufficiently to cause the airplane to lose its lift
and crash soon thereafter. The crash that took both Corporal Scott's and Lieutenant Rockwell's lives was witnessed by over 300 people.
On July 20, 1917, following the procedure for naming American
military aviation fields after Airmen who died in service during "the experimental era", the base now known as Scott Air Force Base
, Illinois
was officially designated Scott Field.
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
member of the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
to lose his life in an aircraft accident
Aviation accidents and incidents
An aviation accident is defined in the Convention on International Civil Aviation Annex 13 as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, in which a...
.
Early life
Born in Braddock, PennsylvaniaBraddock, Pennsylvania
Braddock is a borough located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the Monongahela River. The population was 2,159 at the 2010 census...
, Scott was orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
ed in 1889 after his parents died in the Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
; he was thereafter raised by an aunt.
US Army
Corporal Scott's military career began at Fort SlocumFort Slocum (New York)
Fort Slocum, New York was a US military base occupying Davids' Island and Hart Island at the western end of Long Island Sound. The fort was named for Major General Henry W...
in 1908 in the Field Artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
branch of the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Scott later cross-trained into the Signal Corps in 1911. In July 1911, Scott began suffering from a lengthy unknown illness and upon recovery was deemed unfit for his current duties and was forthwith transferred to College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
Flying Field. After arriving at his assignment, Scott discovered a penchant for mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and was reassigned from his duties of releasing hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
s to becoming chief mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
for one of the Type-B Wright biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
s assigned to the Field.
On September 27, 1912, Scott was promised a ride in one of Flying Field's airplane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
s by First Lieutenant Lewis C. Rockwell. Retired Captain Bernard Rome spoke with Corporal Scott the same day and noted that "He was in high spirits when I spoke to him," and that, with regards to his flight the next day, "...Scott jokingly referred to himself as 'ballast'." Corporal Scott had secured the ride on the aircraft as opposed to what would normally be an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
's position because of his low weight — having never fully recovered from his illness of 1911.
The next day, Lieutenant Rockwell test-flew the plane alone to ensure proper functioning; after reaching 40 miles per hour (17.9 m/s) and assured that the aircraft was functioning properly, the Lieutenant landed and picked up Corporal Scott. The takeoff
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
and flight itself were uneventful as the small craft flew at an altitude of 150 feet (45.7 m) for about ten minutes. However, when attempting to land the plane, Lieutenant Rockwell begin to develop problems with the engine; the 30 hp engine failed sufficiently to cause the airplane to lose its lift
Lift (force)
A fluid flowing past the surface of a body exerts a surface force on it. Lift is the component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. It contrasts with the drag force, which is the component of the surface force parallel to the flow direction...
and crash soon thereafter. The crash that took both Corporal Scott's and Lieutenant Rockwell's lives was witnessed by over 300 people.
On July 20, 1917, following the procedure for naming American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military aviation fields after Airmen who died in service during "the experimental era", the base now known as Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
was officially designated Scott Field.
See also
- List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (pre-1925)