Francis Thomas Evans, Sr.
Francis Thomas Evans, Sr. (June 3, 1886 - March 14, 1974) was a pioneer aviator.
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[edit] Biography
He was born in Delaware, Ohio on June 3, 1886. He was a United States Marine Corps aviator awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in the European theater of World War I. His oldest son, Capt Francis T Evans, Jr, USAF, died on June 16, 1953 while attempting to land his disabled F-86 Sabre at Andrews Air Force Base, put it into a nosedive to avoid crashing into a playground full of children at the Forestville Elementary School. Colonel Evans died on March 14, 1974. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1][2]
[edit] Legacy
Capt. Francis T. Evans Jr, USAF served in the European Theater in WW II as a fighter pilot. Capt. Douglas K. Evans, USAF served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars as a jet fighter pilot. Francis T. Evans Elementary School in Clinton, Maryland is named in honor of his son, Francis T. Evans, Jr.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Francis Thomas Evans, Sr.". Early Aviators. http://www.earlyaviators.com/eevans.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ "Col. Francis Thomas Evans". Early Birds of Aviation. 1975. http://www.earlyaviators.com/eevans.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-10. "Col. Francis Thomas Evans, USMC (Retired) died March 14, 1974 after about six years of failing health during which time he was cared for by his wife Elizabeth K. Evans. He was Marine Aviator number 4. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross after making a loop-the-loop in a seaplane February 13, 1917. In 1918 he was stationed in the Azores, commanding the Seaplane Squadron there. In 1925 he received a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy and a Resolution from the City of Santa Barbara, California for saving the city from fire during the earthquake of that year. He developed a method of housing a stretcher and an attendant in a turtle-back on a P2-DH. These were used by the Marine Corps in Haiti and Santo Domingo until a satisfactory ambulance plane was built. After two serious crashes in 1935 he was grounded and in July 1937 he was retired for physical disability. later, in 1937 he was recalled and served until December 1944. On January 4, 1947, while visiting his son, Captain Douglas K. Evans, USAF, he had his first flight in a jet airplane, a T-33. They did a couple of rolls, an Immalman and a dive with a 5 G pull-out."
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- 1886 births
- 1974 deaths
- People from Delaware, Ohio
- American people of Welsh descent
- United States Marine Corps officers
- American military personnel of World War I
- Members of the Early Birds of Aviation
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- United States Marine Corps personnel stubs
