Frank Wead Frank Wilbur " Spig " Wead ( born October 24 , 1895 , in Peoria , Illinois – died November 15 , 1947 , in Santa Monica , California ) was a U . S . Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II . Military service . A 1916 graduate of the United States Naval Academy , Wead began to promote Naval Aviation after World War I through air racing and speed competitions . This competition , mainly against the United States Army Air Service ( and its leading racer , Jimmy Doolittle ) , helped push U . S . military aviation forward . These competitions would give naval aviation a much - needed spotlight in the public eye . The public attention that it generated helped push Congress to fund the advancement of military aviation . During World War I , Wead served on a minelayer in the North Sea . After World War I he was a test pilot for the Navy . On 29 May 1916 , midshipmen Frank Wead , Calvin Durgin , John D . Price graduated from the United States Naval Academy . Following graduation , Ensign Wead departed , on 2 June 1916 , for leave and travel to his first sea - duty assignment . Ensign Frank Wead is indicated in decklog of USS " San Diego " ( ACR - 6 ) ( homeported : San Diego , California ) , reporting aboard 28 June 1916 , while the cruiser was in anchorage off Guaymas , Mexico . Aboard was Commander George B . Bradshaw , USN ; Executive Officer was Commander Zeno Everett Briggs , USN . Ensigns Frank W . Wead and John D . Price began this Latin cruise departing out of San Francisco Bay , 25 April 1917 . As " pollywogs " , they participated in the time - honored naval tradition of the Line - crossing ceremony and were initiated into the royal Kingdom of King Neptune ' s realm and became crusty " shellbacks " when the armored cruiser crossed the equator at , on 10 June . The ship reached Rio de Janeiro where with several other officers they departed the " Pittsburgh " , on 21 September . They were booked for passage to the Port of New York aboard SS " Zeelandia " . She departed Rio de Janiero on 25 September and arrived in New York on 17 October . Whereupon , Ensigns Wead and Price reported to the Bureau of Navigation , Navy Department , for sea duty orders . In 1918 , LT ( j . g . ) Frank Wead served aboard . It operated in the area of the North Sea Mine Barrage . Following the Armistice with Germany , " Shawmut " returned stateside to the Boston Navy Yard , Massachusetts , with newly promoted LT ( j . g . ) Wead . A kite - balloon division of six balloons under the command of LT ( j . g . ) John G . Paul , USN , were staged on various ships and aboard the " Shawmut " . All units were assembled by 15 February , and began operations with the fleet . They participated in long - range spotting practice giving practical demonstration of aircraft and balloon capabilities , and of the advantages to be derived from the coordinated employment of air and surface units . The experiences gained from these fleet maneuvers had historical significances not only for Air Detachment , Atlantic Fleet , but also for LT ( j . g . ) Frank Wead . It was during these fleet maneuvers that Wead became more interested in the new post - war naval aviation career than as a gunnery or submarine officer . The influence provided by both Lieutenant Commander Marc Mitscher , USN , and Captain Steele was enough to convince Wead that the new field of naval aviation would become a promising naval career . With the knowledge that the Naval Aviation Division was seeking naval officers with a strong aptitude in naval engineering , having a desire to accept projects with a certain amount of risk , and with the combat - proven ability to lead naval personnel by example , Wead began the process for obtaining endorsements to his application for flight training . LT ( j . g . ) Frank Wead requested orders for naval aviation flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida . His request was approved . The orders stated to report for " Class 1 " ( the first class of regular officers sent to NAS Pensacola after the commencement of World War I ) , on 15 September 1919 . Wead was assigned to a training flight team comprising three students : ( 1 ) LT ( j . g . ) Frank Wilbur " Sparrow " " Spig " Wead , USNA - 1916 ; ( 2 ) LTjg Robert Moran " Jerry " Farrar , USNA - 1916 ; and , ( 3 ) LTjg Calvin " Cal " " Pansy " Thornton Durgin , USNA - 1916 ) . LT ( j . g . ) The three aviators ( Wead , Farrar , Durgin ) learned the basics of flight and advanced flying and navigating . Their training involved flying , navigating , radio time . Wead was designated a Naval Aviator on 17 April 1920 . On that date , his wife , Mrs . Minnie " Min " Wead , pinned his golden wings just above his two decoration ribbons : Mexican Service Medal and World War Victory Medal . Both Farrar and Durgin received their aviation wings on 27 May 1920 . On 21 April 1921 , LT Frank Wead reported to USS " Aroostook " ( CM - 3 ) , homeported at Naval Air Station North Island , San Diego , California . Aboard " Aroostook " , Wead was assigned aviation duties involving flying : Aeromarine 39 - B ( two - seater seaplane used as a " scout plane " ) and Felixstowe F - 5 - L ( flying boat that carried a crew of four ) . In the spring of 1923 , Wead reported to NAS Anacostia , Washington DC ( today , known as the Naval Support Facility Anacostia ) for shore duty assignment . On the 22nd and 23 June 1924 in Anacostia , D . C . , as a lieutenant , Wead along with Lieutenant John Dale Price , using a Curtiss CS - 2 with a Wright T - 3 Tornado engine , set new Class C seaplane records for distance ( 963 . 123 miles ) , duration ( 13 hours 23 minutes 15 seconds ) , and three speed records ( 73 . 41 mph for 500 kilometers , 74 . 27 mph for 1000 km , and 74 . 17 mph for 1500 km ) . Lieutenants Wead and Price struck again on the 11th and 12 July 1924 , with new Class C seaplane records for distance ( 994 . 19 miles ) and duration ( 14 hours 53 min 44 sec ) using a CS - 2 with a Wright Tornado engine . In order to set these records , Wead and Price had to exchange positions at the controls , as the aircraft had only one set of controls . One of the pair would leave the navigator / spotter position , climb out of the plane and slide along the hull on a small rail . The two would both occupy the pilots seat as one slid into place and the other slid out and exited the aircraft and moved to the navigator ' s position . Following his successful assignment at NAS Anacostia as staff officer of the Bureau of Aeronautics , Wead was assigned staff duty involving flying at NAS North Island where he served as Flag Lieutenant to Captain Stanford Elwood Moses , USN - the flight project commander at NAS North Island . One big event Wead was involved with during 1924 – 25 was the planning for the San Francisco to Hawaii endurance and navigation tests to comprise two Naval Aircraft Factory PN - 9 flying boats , and one Boeing PB - 1 flying boat . Harvey M . Beigel provided an article that was published in the " American Aviation Historical Society Journal " ( winter 1997 ) describing further details of " Spig " Wead ' s aviation exploits and screenwriting abilities . Accident . Wead would have continued his career as a naval aviator had it not been for a serious accident . In April 1926 , he was resting upstairs in his home and heard one of his daughters scream . He then rushed downstairs and tripped , falling and breaking his neck . The injury resulted in paralysis . While convalescing , at the encouragement of his Navy friends , Wead began writing . According to an article written by a " San Diego Union Tribune " staff writer : World War II and retirement . Wead returned to the Navy during World War II and helped integrate the use of escort carrier s to support the main battle line and beach landings . In his syndicated column " In Hollywood " , on 13 January 1942 , Newspaper Enterprise Association ( NEA ) service staff correspondent Paul Harrison released an article on a recent interview with Spig Wead titled " " No Weeds Growing Under Wead ’ s Feet " " ( NEA supplied daily features to many newspapers ; United Media ) . Paul wrote : The story of CDR Wead ' s sea - duty during World War II began when USS " Yorktown " ( CV - 10 ) arrived in Pearl Harbor on 24 July 1943 . Having completed another successful operation , " Yorktown " , instead of returning to Pearl Harbor , steamed to the newly established Pacific Fleet anchorage at Majuro Atoll , arriving about 4 February 1944 . It was during this short eight - day anchorage period amongst the Pacific Fleet that CDR Wead was transferred from " Yorktown " to a destroyer , and then to " Essex " ( CV - 9 ) . The commanding officer of " Essex " was Captain Ralph A . Ofstie , USN . While aboard " Essex " , Wead saw action against Truk Island ( 17 – 18 February ) , now called Chuuk , and against Saipan , Tinian , and Guam ( 23 February ) . After these operations , " Essex " received orders for overhaul and CDR Wead remained aboard " Essex " as it steamed to San Francisco Bay . The carrier arrived at Naval Air Station Alameda on or about 16 April 1944 for a much - needed overhaul . It was at NAS Alameda , aboard USS " Essex " ( pier - side ) , that Wead was given an official send - off from active duty just prior to his retirement . CDR Frank Wead was relieved of active duty on 21 July 1944 , and was processed through the Personnel Department at NAS Alameda receiving his discharge papers and a train ticket for Los Angeles , California . Works . Early pulp writings . Following his release from Balboa Naval Hospital , LCDR Wead , USN ( Ret . ) , moved to Los Angeles County , California , to reside in Santa Monica where he purchased a beautiful small home at 1417 Ocean Avenue ( an ocean front view ) . It was at this residence that LCDR Wead wrote : Frank A . Andrews ' s book " Dirigible " ( New York : A . L . Burt Co . 1931 ) , is based on the Columbia picture screenplay by Wead . Frank Wead ' s publishers released another book in 1931 . This was " Wings For Men " . Writing would become a second and even more important career for Wead , and a means of promoting naval aviation . His second unexpected career became far more important than his work as a pilot . Wead ' s writing led him to Hollywood and the eventual friendship and collaboration with director John Ford . Wead received two Academy Award nominations in 1938 , one for Best Original Story for " Test Pilot " and a second for Best Screenplay for " The Citadel " . Wead also wrote for leading magazines ( The Saturday Evening Post and The American Magazine ) , and he wrote at least two books : " Ceiling Zero " ( 1936 ) , and " Gales , Ice and Men , A Biography of the Steam Barkentine Bear " ( 1937 ) . He later adapted " Ceiling Zero " into both a Broadway play and a feature film . Legacy . On 17 November 1947 , the " Associated Press " reported Frank Wead ' s death . John Ford directed " The Wings of Eagles " in 1957 , portraying Wead ' s contributions to Naval aviation . John Wayne was cast as Wead , Ken Curtis as John Dale Price , and Ward Bond played director Ford in the thinly - disguised pseudonymous character of John Dodge . Maureen O ' Hara held the role of Mrs . Minnie " Min " ( Bryant ) Wead ( 9 December 1891 in Colorado - 21 January 1952 in Los Angeles ) , Frank ' s wife . Military awards and certifications . Legion of Merit . According to a Navy Department Office of Public Relations and Office of War Information radio and press notice of Tuesday , 29 August 1944 , CDR Frank Wead received the Legion of Merit : Mexican Service Medal . Ensign Frank Wead earned the Mexican Service Medal aboard USS " San Diego " ( ACR - 6 ) between 7 July 1916 through 12 February 1917 . This Navy warship was previously commissioned as USS " California " ( ACR - 6 ) . World War I Victory Medal . LT ( j . g . ) Frank Wead earned this medal while serving aboard USS " Shawmut " ( CM - 4 ) during mine laying operations in the North Sea ' s Northern Barrage , 1918 . Civilian honors . Schneider Trophy ( 1923 ) . The American team under the leadership of LT Frank Wilbur Wead , USN ( team captain ) won the " Schneider International Seaplane Race " and were awarded the " Schneider Trophy " ( Europeans refer to it as the " Schneider Cup " ) on 28 September 1923 , at East Cowes , Isle of Wight , Great Britain . The American team comprised LT Frank Wead , LT David Rittenhouse , LT Rutledge Irvine , LT Adolphus Worthington Gorton , and several naval aviation mechanics . It was managed by team captain LT Wead . The Schneider Cup ( or Schneider Trophy ) , named for the French aviation enthusiast , started in Monaco in 1913 . This seaplane racing cup resided in Europe until 1923 when Lieutenant David Rittenhouse won the race and brought the cup home to the United States for the Navy team . " Ceiling Zero " . The film " Ceiling Zero " ( 1936 ) received critic ' s choice recognition as a Broadway play and film production ; a film based upon the stage and screen play by LCDR Frank Wead , USN ( Ret . ) , and the technical advise of Paul Mantz . " Test Pilot " . The film " Test Pilot " ( 1938 ) earned 4 Academy Award nominations : Outstanding Production , Writing , Film Editing " The Citadel " . The film " The Citadel " ( 1938 ) earned 4 Academy Award nominations : Outstanding Production , Best Actor , Directing , Writing - Screenplay " They Were Expendable " . " They Were Expendable " ( 1945 ) earned two Academy Award nominations for Sound Recording and Special Effects .