Frederick M. Trapnell
Encyclopedia
Frederick Mackay "Fred" Trapnell (July 9, 1902 - January 30, 1975) was a United States Navy
admiral
and aviation pioneer. Trapnell was the first Navy pilot to fly a jet aircraft, was considered the best, most experienced naval test aviator of his generation, co-founded the branch's first test pilot school, and played a pivotal role in both the development of future Naval aircraft and the survival of the post-World War II
Navy's air arm.
Trapnell was also a cousin of Bataan Death March
survivor, LTG Thomas J. H. Trapnell
and his nephew, the noted skyjacker, Garrett Brock Trapnell
.
, New Jersey
to Benjamin Trapnell of Charles Town
, West Virginia
and Ada Probasco of Ohio
. Trapnell came from a prosperous family with a long military tradition. His father and several cousins attended the United States Naval Academy
in Annapolis, Maryland
- although Benjamin's military career was cut short by an infamous hazing
incident. Several other cousins were officers in the United States Army
as was his brother, Wallace Probasco Trapnell, who served in the Signal Corps. Following his father, Trapnell attended the Naval Academy, graduated, and was commissioned an ensign in 1923. After serving for two years at sea onboard the battleship USS California
and the cruiser USS Marblehead
, Trapnell was assigned to NAS Pensacola in 1926 for flight training, thus beginning his career as a naval aviator.
. In June of that year, along with two other pilots, he was assigned to a new unit, the Three Flying Fish, the Navy's first official aerial demonstration team. Flying specially modified Curtiss F6C-4 biplane
s, they travelled around the nation performing intricate, aerobatic exhibitions.
The team was disbanded in April, 1931, and Trapnell was soon assigned to the small plane unit attached to the Navy's dirigible airfleet. From 1932 to 1934, he served on the USS Akron at NAS Lakehurst in New Jersey and her sister ship, the USS Macon
at NAS Sunnyvale, California
. At the latter installation, he was responsible for re-engineering the apparatus for hooking up aircraft while in flight as well as a rewriting the procedure. In 1938, Lt. Trapnell flew in a squadron of eighteen bombers from San Diego, California
to Honolulu, Hawaii
in what was "the greatest over-ocean formation flight" to date.
LCDR
Trapnell returned to Anacostia in 1942 as the chief of the Test Flight Section. Two years later, and with promotion to commander
, he relocated with the section to the new Naval Air Test Center in Maryland.
With World War II
raging, Trapnell dedicated himself to redesigning flight testing and procedures. He initiated a series of lectures and classes to familiarize pilots not only with the rudiments of flying but to learn the intimate details of flight engineering, performance, stability, and control. He required that the aviator know every aspect of his aircraft under all conditions.
So respected was Trapnell's knowledge and ability that, in 1942, he was personally requested by Roy Grumman to evaluate the new Grumman F6F Hellcat
, the Navy's answer to the lethal Japanese Zero
. Circumventing the usual testing procedures, Grumman had Trapnell take the fighter on a crash program. "He came to the factory and flew the prototype F6F. It suited him, as I remember, except for the longitudinal stability ó he wanted more of that. We built it in and rushed into production without a Navy certificate on the model. We relied on Trapnellís opinion. His test flight took less than three hours. Iím not sure we ever got an official OK on the Hellcat design." Trapnell would later gain valuable knowledge of what the Hellcat and its predecessor, the Wildcat
, were up against after performing extensive tests in a captured Zero recovered from a crash that same year.
Trapnell's unit continued to test a host of American and British aircraft and was responsible for many innovations. Following Trapnell's recommendations after months of testing, engineers at Vought Aviation
extensively redesigned a new fighter already under development, the famous F4U Corsair
. Of the F7F Tigercat
, Trapnell is reputed to have exclaimed: "It's the best damn fighter I've every flown." 1943 saw Trapnell on temporary duty assignment at the Muroc Army Air Field in California
for secret testing. On April 21, he became the first naval aviator to pilot a jet aircraft, the Bell XP-59A Airacomet, the first such plane built in the United States. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to captain.
For the remainder of the war Trapnell served in the fleet, commanding two squadrons and an escort carrier. In October of 1944, he became chief of staff to RADM
Arthur Radford, Commander Carrier Division Six, overseeing the remaining air strikes and amphibious landings in the Pacific theater.
In 1946, Trapnell was back at NATC as test coordinator and sheparding the monumental changes in engineering, testing, and other procedures ushered in by jet aircraft. This included vastly upgrading and regularizing the unofficial Test Pilot School
that had been in existence since the Test Flight Section had arrived in 1944-45. Serving as acting commander of NATC for six months in 1947 afforded Trapnell the opportunity to make substantial changes. Working with chief project engineer CDR Sydney Sherby and with the backing of RADM Apollo Soucek
, Trapnell devised a plan for an official test pilot program which was approved on January 22, 1948 by ADM John D. Price, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
. The Test Pilot Training Division began formal operation in April of that year under the direction of Sherby.
Continuing his affiliation with the school, Trapnell assisted Sherby in selecting the candidates who would compose the first class, which begun on July 6, 1948. He also helped to outfit the school by procuring desks and other material. A collection of some 550 technical books that he had amassed over time became its first library. Additionally, Trapnell contributed to the school's highly popular textbook, Airplane Aerodynamics, writing its foreword.
In June 1949, Trapnell once again became commander of NATC. He also received the Octave Chanute Award
that summer for "showing outstanding ability not only in flying every type of aircraft but also in detecting critical defects in new airplanes and suggesting ways to deal with them." His work on carrier-based aircraft was particularly noted. In October of that year, Trapnell appeared before the House Armed Services Committee during the Revolt of the Admirals
incident, where he provided crucial testimony on behalf of naval aviation. A reporter, covering the event for Time, observed that the famed aviator "ha[d] probably flown more types of planes than any other U.S. pilot."
, effective April 29, 1950. He immediately put his extensive aviator experience to use in order to increase efficiency. Among other innovations, Trapnell revised the system and appartus utilized for carrier take-offs, considerably streamlining the amount of time expended for the procedure.
In February, 1951, he was promoted to rear admiral
and became- in March- deputy commander of both Sandia Base
and the Field Command Armed Forces Special Weapons Project at Albuquerque, New Mexico
. He served in this capacity until suffering a debilitating heart attack in April of 1952. That September, Trapnell medically retired with the rank of vice admiral
.
After the Navy, Trapnell worked as a consultant for Grumman Aircraft for the next 23 years and became a sailing enthusiast. On April 1, 1976 the air field at NAS Patuxent River was officially named "Trapnell Field" in his honor. At the dedication ceremony, keynote speaker ADM Frederick H. Michaelis, Chief of Naval Material
, said:
In 1986, Trapnell was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
.
, an affluent city near San Diego.
Trapnell's extended family had a degree of public attention- both famous and infamous- attached to it. His father Benjamin had been discharged from the Navy while a midshipman at the Naval Academy after an incident aboard the Academy's training vessel, the USS Constellation
in August, 1883. In the first such trial of its kind, Benjamin Trapnell and several others were convicted of hazing younger midshipmen.
Benjamin later served as a United States Attorney
for West Virginia under the second Cleveland
Administration. During a banquet given by former residents of Charles Town, WV at the St. Denis Hotel in New York
, he caused a public stir when he lambasted the McKinley Administration's
policies in regards to newly acquired territory from the recently concluded Spanish-American War
.
Trapnell's first cousin, Thomas John Hall, and first cousin-once removed, Garrett Brock, also had their own heroic and unheroic- respectively- notoriety.
Trapnell's distant cousin Joseph likewise had a brief and ironic public appearance around the same time that his cousin Garrett's exploits made the front pages. On September 3, 1971, just under five months before his cousin would hijack a TWA flight, Joseph, then a captain for Eastern Airlines, foiled an attempted hijacking of his own aircraft. A Cuban refugee attempted to commandeer the plane, enroute from Chicago to Miami, but was overpowered by the pilot and co-pilot. This attempt occurred during an epidemic of similar incidents.
Like many other male members in his family, Trapnell was known as "Trap" from his last name. He died at the U. S. Naval Hospital
in San Diego, California on January 30, 1975.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
and aviation pioneer. Trapnell was the first Navy pilot to fly a jet aircraft, was considered the best, most experienced naval test aviator of his generation, co-founded the branch's first test pilot school, and played a pivotal role in both the development of future Naval aircraft and the survival of the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Navy's air arm.
Trapnell was also a cousin of Bataan Death March
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
survivor, LTG Thomas J. H. Trapnell
Thomas J. H. Trapnell
Thomas John Hall "Trap" Trapnell was a United States Armygeneral. Trapnell survived the Bataan Death March and the sinking of two transportation ships during...
and his nephew, the noted skyjacker, Garrett Brock Trapnell
Garrett Brock Trapnell
Garrett Brock Trapnell was a con man, bank robber, and aircraft hijacker of the 1960s and early 1970s. Trapnell initiated a string of bank robberies across the United States and Canada that netted him in excess of $1,000,000 over time...
.
Early life
Frederick Trapnell was born in ElizabethElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
to Benjamin Trapnell of Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and Ada Probasco of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Trapnell came from a prosperous family with a long military tradition. His father and several cousins attended the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
- although Benjamin's military career was cut short by an infamous hazing
Hazing
Hazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
incident. Several other cousins were officers in the United States 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...
as was his brother, Wallace Probasco Trapnell, who served in the Signal Corps. Following his father, Trapnell attended the Naval Academy, graduated, and was commissioned an ensign in 1923. After serving for two years at sea onboard the battleship USS California
USS California (BB-44)
USS California , a Tennessee-class battleship, was the fifth ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 31st state. Beginning as the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, she served in the Pacific her entire career. She was sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor at her moorings in Battleship Row,...
and the cruiser USS Marblehead
USS Marblehead (CL-12)
USS Marblehead was an Omaha-class light cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the third Navy ship named for the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts....
, Trapnell was assigned to NAS Pensacola in 1926 for flight training, thus beginning his career as a naval aviator.
Naval aviator
Trapnell reportedly had "a natural flying ability" and "a firm grasp of aerodynamics." While at Pensacola, he flew in a variety of aircraft, garnering significant experience and further honing his skills. In 1930, he was transferred to NAS Anacostia in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In June of that year, along with two other pilots, he was assigned to a new unit, the Three Flying Fish, the Navy's first official aerial demonstration team. Flying specially modified Curtiss F6C-4 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, they travelled around the nation performing intricate, aerobatic exhibitions.
The team was disbanded in April, 1931, and Trapnell was soon assigned to the small plane unit attached to the Navy's dirigible airfleet. From 1932 to 1934, he served on the USS Akron at NAS Lakehurst in New Jersey and her sister ship, the USS Macon
USS Macon (ZRS-5)
USS Macon was a rigid airship built and operated by the United States Navy for scouting. She served as a "flying aircraft carrier", launching Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk biplane fighters. In service for less than two years, in 1935 Macon was damaged in a storm and lost off California's Big Sur coast,...
at NAS Sunnyvale, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At the latter installation, he was responsible for re-engineering the apparatus for hooking up aircraft while in flight as well as a rewriting the procedure. In 1938, Lt. Trapnell flew in a squadron of eighteen bombers from San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in what was "the greatest over-ocean formation flight" to date.
LCDR
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
Trapnell returned to Anacostia in 1942 as the chief of the Test Flight Section. Two years later, and with promotion to commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
, he relocated with the section to the new Naval Air Test Center in Maryland.
With World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
raging, Trapnell dedicated himself to redesigning flight testing and procedures. He initiated a series of lectures and classes to familiarize pilots not only with the rudiments of flying but to learn the intimate details of flight engineering, performance, stability, and control. He required that the aviator know every aspect of his aircraft under all conditions.
So respected was Trapnell's knowledge and ability that, in 1942, he was personally requested by Roy Grumman to evaluate the new Grumman F6F Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
, the Navy's answer to the lethal Japanese Zero
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
. Circumventing the usual testing procedures, Grumman had Trapnell take the fighter on a crash program. "He came to the factory and flew the prototype F6F. It suited him, as I remember, except for the longitudinal stability ó he wanted more of that. We built it in and rushed into production without a Navy certificate on the model. We relied on Trapnellís opinion. His test flight took less than three hours. Iím not sure we ever got an official OK on the Hellcat design." Trapnell would later gain valuable knowledge of what the Hellcat and its predecessor, the Wildcat
F4F Wildcat
The Grumman F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940...
, were up against after performing extensive tests in a captured Zero recovered from a crash that same year.
Trapnell's unit continued to test a host of American and British aircraft and was responsible for many innovations. Following Trapnell's recommendations after months of testing, engineers at Vought Aviation
Vought
Vought is the name of several related aerospace firms. These have included, in the past, Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace , Vought Aircraft Companies, and the current Vought Aircraft Industries. The first incarnation of Vought was established by Chance M...
extensively redesigned a new fighter already under development, the famous F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
. Of the F7F Tigercat
F7F Tigercat
The Grumman F7F Tigercat was the first twin-engined fighter aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed for the new Midway-class aircraft carriers, the aircraft were too large to operate from earlier decks. Although delivered to United States Marine Corps combat units before...
, Trapnell is reputed to have exclaimed: "It's the best damn fighter I've every flown." 1943 saw Trapnell on temporary duty assignment at the Muroc Army Air Field in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for secret testing. On April 21, he became the first naval aviator to pilot a jet aircraft, the Bell XP-59A Airacomet, the first such plane built in the United States. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to captain.
For the remainder of the war Trapnell served in the fleet, commanding two squadrons and an escort carrier. In October of 1944, he became chief of staff to RADM
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Arthur Radford, Commander Carrier Division Six, overseeing the remaining air strikes and amphibious landings in the Pacific theater.
Naval Test Pilot School
United States Naval Test Pilot School
The United States Naval Test Pilot School , located at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Patuxent River, Maryland, provides instruction to experienced United States Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and foreign military experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight test...
that had been in existence since the Test Flight Section had arrived in 1944-45. Serving as acting commander of NATC for six months in 1947 afforded Trapnell the opportunity to make substantial changes. Working with chief project engineer CDR Sydney Sherby and with the backing of RADM Apollo Soucek
Apollo Soucek
Apollo Soucek was a vice admiral in the United States Navy, who was a record-breaking test pilot during 1929-1930, served in World War II, and was commander of Carrier Division Three during the Korean War, ending his career as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics.-Biography:Soucek was born in...
, Trapnell devised a plan for an official test pilot program which was approved on January 22, 1948 by ADM John D. Price, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Personnel
The Chief of Naval Personnel is responsible for overall manpower readiness for the United States Navy. The CNP also serves as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and is one of four Deputy Chiefs of Naval Operations, with the identification of N1/NT...
. The Test Pilot Training Division began formal operation in April of that year under the direction of Sherby.
Continuing his affiliation with the school, Trapnell assisted Sherby in selecting the candidates who would compose the first class, which begun on July 6, 1948. He also helped to outfit the school by procuring desks and other material. A collection of some 550 technical books that he had amassed over time became its first library. Additionally, Trapnell contributed to the school's highly popular textbook, Airplane Aerodynamics, writing its foreword.
In June 1949, Trapnell once again became commander of NATC. He also received the Octave Chanute Award
Octave Chanute Award
This award was created in early 1902 by the Western Society of Engineers for papers of merit on engineering innovations. It is still awarded as of 2011. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc...
that summer for "showing outstanding ability not only in flying every type of aircraft but also in detecting critical defects in new airplanes and suggesting ways to deal with them." His work on carrier-based aircraft was particularly noted. In October of that year, Trapnell appeared before the House Armed Services Committee during the Revolt of the Admirals
Revolt of the Admirals
The Revolt of the Admirals is a name given to an episode that took place in the late 1940s in which several United States Navy admirals and high-ranking civilian officials publicly disagreed with the President and the Secretary of Defense's strategy and plans for the military forces in the early...
incident, where he provided crucial testimony on behalf of naval aviation. A reporter, covering the event for Time, observed that the famed aviator "ha[d] probably flown more types of planes than any other U.S. pilot."
Post aviator career
Trapnell was made commander of the USS Coral SeaUSS Coral Sea (CV-43)
USS Coral Sea , a , was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of the Coral Sea. She earned the affectionate nickname "Ageless Warrior" through her long career...
, effective April 29, 1950. He immediately put his extensive aviator experience to use in order to increase efficiency. Among other innovations, Trapnell revised the system and appartus utilized for carrier take-offs, considerably streamlining the amount of time expended for the procedure.
In February, 1951, he was promoted to rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
and became- in March- deputy commander of both Sandia Base
Sandia Base
Sandia Base was, from 1946 to 1971, the principal nuclear weapons installation of the United States Department of Defense. It was located on the southeastern edge of Albuquerque, New Mexico...
and the Field Command Armed Forces Special Weapons Project at Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He served in this capacity until suffering a debilitating heart attack in April of 1952. That September, Trapnell medically retired with the rank of vice admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
.
After the Navy, Trapnell worked as a consultant for Grumman Aircraft for the next 23 years and became a sailing enthusiast. On April 1, 1976 the air field at NAS Patuxent River was officially named "Trapnell Field" in his honor. At the dedication ceremony, keynote speaker ADM Frederick H. Michaelis, Chief of Naval Material
Office of Naval Material
In January 1942 the Director of Material and Procurement was appointed to coordinate all material procurement activities of the US Navy. In 1948 the office title was changed to Chief of Division of Material, and in 1984 to Chief of the Office of Naval Material. In 1983 title was changed to Naval...
, said:
- Vice Admiral Trapnell was a pioneer test pilot whose calculated daring and prophetic vision
- served to advance the science of naval aviation test and evaluation. ëGet the numbersí was the
- watchword of the test pilots he trained and led. His contributions to aviation were enormous.
In 1986, Trapnell was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
The United States Naval Aviation Hall of Honor, located at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, recognizes individuals "who by their actions or achievements made outstanding contributions to Naval Aviation." Since its inception in 1979, the Hall of Honor has enshrined 80 people...
.
Family
Trapnell was married to his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Belcher, in 1929(22). They had one son Frederick Mackay Trapnell-Ancestry.com Fredrick Mackay Trapnell- who also took up sailing-. His second marriage, in 1936 to Alice Moffitt, produced one son, Herbert Wallace. Both marriages were to women of socially prominent West Coast families; the Trapnells made several appearances in articles covering socialite circles usually involving festivities in CoronadoCoronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
, an affluent city near San Diego.
Trapnell's extended family had a degree of public attention- both famous and infamous- attached to it. His father Benjamin had been discharged from the Navy while a midshipman at the Naval Academy after an incident aboard the Academy's training vessel, the USS Constellation
USS Constellation (1854)
USS Constellation constructed in 1854 is a sloop-of-war and the second United States Navy ship to carry this famous name. According to the US Naval Registry the original frigate was disassembled on 25 June 1853 in Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia, and the sloop-of-war was constructed in the...
in August, 1883. In the first such trial of its kind, Benjamin Trapnell and several others were convicted of hazing younger midshipmen.
Benjamin later served as a United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for West Virginia under the second Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
Administration. During a banquet given by former residents of Charles Town, WV at the St. Denis Hotel in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he caused a public stir when he lambasted the McKinley Administration's
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
policies in regards to newly acquired territory from the recently concluded Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
.
Trapnell's first cousin, Thomas John Hall, and first cousin-once removed, Garrett Brock, also had their own heroic and unheroic- respectively- notoriety.
Trapnell's distant cousin Joseph likewise had a brief and ironic public appearance around the same time that his cousin Garrett's exploits made the front pages. On September 3, 1971, just under five months before his cousin would hijack a TWA flight, Joseph, then a captain for Eastern Airlines, foiled an attempted hijacking of his own aircraft. A Cuban refugee attempted to commandeer the plane, enroute from Chicago to Miami, but was overpowered by the pilot and co-pilot. This attempt occurred during an epidemic of similar incidents.
Like many other male members in his family, Trapnell was known as "Trap" from his last name. He died at the U. S. Naval Hospital
Bob Wilson Naval Hospital
Naval Medical Center San Diego , also known as Bob Wilson Naval Hospital and informally referred to as "Balboa Hospital", is a technologically advanced Navy medical treatment facility. Located within the grounds of Balboa Park in San Diego, the hospital has played a role in the history of San...
in San Diego, California on January 30, 1975.
External links
- Davis-Monthan Air Register- Biography containing more details of Adm. Trapnell's flight history.