Kurtz was born in Davenport, Iowa, the third child of Dora Lee (née Fenton) and Frank Allen Kurtz, Sr., an insurance salesman.[3][4][5] He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.[6] Kurtz became interested in flying at age 16, and in 1935 flew an open cockpit plane, setting a speed record flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City to Washington, D.C., and back to Los Angeles.
Kurtz joined the Army to train as a pilot, anticipating a career in commercial aviation. Before the war, he held the national junior transcontinental speed record and established half a dozen other speed marks for light planes.[7]
He was Commander of the 463d Bombardment Group (Heavy), 15th Air Force, Celone Airfield, Foggia, Italy (1944–45) and a survivor of the air attack at Clark Field in the Philippines, two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In Australia, he salvaged and helped to rebuild a B-17D Flying Fortress bomber using a combination of parts from other wrecked B-17s. At that time, the repaired B-17D was nicknamed "The Swoose" by 19th Bomb Group pilot, Captain Weldon Smith. The tail of a Boeing B-17D, AAF Ser. No. 40-3091 was grafted onto 40-3097, resulting in a hybrid B-17D. The bomber became "half swan and half goose" just like the lyrics in the then-popular novelty song "Alexander, The Swoose." Before the end of the war, "The Swoose" was scheduled to be scrapped and melted down for its aluminium content. Kurtz then convinced the City of Los Angeles to retrieve his by-then famous bomber for use as a World War II memorial: It was the only B-17 that flew from the beginning of World War II until the end. Today, "The Swoose" is the oldest surviving B-17 and the only early "D" model still in existence. It is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio, for restoration work to enable future display.[8]
Kurtz married Margret "Margo" Kurtz and had one child, actress Swoosie Kurtz (born 1944). His daughter's first name "Swoosie" (rhymes with Lucy, rather than woozy) is derived from his two B-17s named "The Swoose" and "Swoose II", which he piloted with the 19th and 463rd Bomb Groups.[1][9]
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^ abcdEvans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
^Armstrong, A.C.; Vitale, S.A.; Who's Who Historical Society (Calif.) (1979). Who's who in California. Vol. 12. Who's Who Historical Society. ISBN9780960316601. ISSN 0511-8948.
^Betz, P.R.; Carnes, M.C.; American Council of Learned Societies (2005). American National Biography: Supplement 2. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 328. ISBN9780195222029.
^Fowler, C.C. (1950). The history of the Fowlers. C.C. Fowler. ISBN9780608321288.
^Armstrong, A.C.; Who's Who Historical Society (Calif.) (1976). Who's who in California. Who's Who Historical Society. ISSN 0511-8948.
frank, kurtz, comics, writer, director, colonel, frank, allen, kurtz, september, 1911, october, 1996, american, olympic, diver, aviator, united, states, army, forces, colonelkurtz, 1935birth, namefrank, allen, kurtz, born, 1911, september, 1911davenport, iowa,. For the comics writer see Frank Kurtz director Colonel Frank Allen Kurtz Jr 2 September 9 1911 October 31 1996 was an American Olympic diver and an aviator in the United States Army Air Forces ColonelFrank KurtzKurtz in 1935Birth nameFrank Allen Kurtz Jr Born 1911 09 11 September 11 1911Davenport Iowa U S 1 DiedOctober 31 1996 1996 10 31 aged 85 North Hollywood Los Angeles U S 1 Allegiance United StatesService wbr branchUnited States Air ForceRankColonelUnit463rd Bomb Group United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces United States Air ForceAwardsCroix de Guerre Fr Silver Stars 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses 3 Air Medals 3 Presidential Citations 5 Spouse s Margaret RogersRelationsSwoosie Kurtz daughter Other workExecutive at William May GarlandFrank KurtzKurtz left and Swendsen in 1931SportSportDivingClubLos Angeles Athletic ClubMedal record Representing the United StatesOlympic Games1932 Los Angeles 10 m platform Contents 1 Life and career 2 Military career 3 Personal life 4 See also 5 ReferencesLife and career editKurtz was born in Davenport Iowa the third child of Dora Lee nee Fenton and Frank Allen Kurtz Sr an insurance salesman 3 4 5 He grew up in Kansas City Missouri 6 Kurtz became interested in flying at age 16 and in 1935 flew an open cockpit plane setting a speed record flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City to Washington D C and back to Los Angeles Kurtz s diving abilities impressed Olympic champion swimmer Johnny Weissmuller who encouraged him to train with famous coach Clyde Swendsen 6 Kurtz graduated from Hollywood High School and went on to the University of Southern California especially to join the diving team He won a bronze medal in the 10 meter platform at the 1932 Olympics and placed fifth in 1936 competing with an injured shoulder 6 He also won the AAU platform title in 1933 1 Military career editKurtz joined the Army to train as a pilot anticipating a career in commercial aviation Before the war he held the national junior transcontinental speed record and established half a dozen other speed marks for light planes 7 He was Commander of the 463d Bombardment Group Heavy 15th Air Force Celone Airfield Foggia Italy 1944 45 and a survivor of the air attack at Clark Field in the Philippines two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941 In Australia he salvaged and helped to rebuild a B 17D Flying Fortress bomber using a combination of parts from other wrecked B 17s At that time the repaired B 17D was nicknamed The Swoose by 19th Bomb Group pilot Captain Weldon Smith The tail of a Boeing B 17D AAF Ser No 40 3091 was grafted onto 40 3097 resulting in a hybrid B 17D The bomber became half swan and half goose just like the lyrics in the then popular novelty song Alexander The Swoose Before the end of the war The Swoose was scheduled to be scrapped and melted down for its aluminium content Kurtz then convinced the City of Los Angeles to retrieve his by then famous bomber for use as a World War II memorial It was the only B 17 that flew from the beginning of World War II until the end Today The Swoose is the oldest surviving B 17 and the only early D model still in existence It is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn Ohio for restoration work to enable future display 8 After 24 years in the service of the United States Armed Forces U S Army Air Corps U S Army Air Forces and the U S Air Force Kurtz retired and became a top executive at the William May Garland development firm 9 Personal life editKurtz married Margret Margo Kurtz and had one child actress Swoosie Kurtz born 1944 His daughter s first name Swoosie rhymes with Lucy rather than woozy is derived from his two B 17s named The Swoose and Swoose II which he piloted with the 19th and 463rd Bomb Groups 1 9 Kurtz died in 1996 from complications following a fall 9 In 2012 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame 6 See also editList of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame List of University of Southern California peopleReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Kurtz a b c d Evans Hilary Gjerde Arild Heijmans Jeroen Mallon Bill et al Frank Kurtz Olympics at Sports Reference com Sports Reference LLC Archived from the original on April 18 2020 Armstrong A C Vitale S A Who s Who Historical Society Calif 1979 Who s who in California Vol 12 Who s Who Historical Society ISBN 9780960316601 ISSN 0511 8948 Betz P R Carnes M C American Council of Learned Societies 2005 American National Biography Supplement 2 Oxford University Press USA p 328 ISBN 9780195222029 Fowler C C 1950 The history of the Fowlers C C Fowler ISBN 9780608321288 Armstrong A C Who s Who Historical Society Calif 1976 Who s who in California Who s Who Historical Society ISSN 0511 8948 a b c d Colonel Frank Kurtz USA 2012 Honor Pioneer Diver ISHOF org International Swimming Hall of Fame Archived from the original on February 25 2017 Retrieved July 18 2017 Oliver Myrna November 7 1996 Frank Kurtz World War II Aviation Hero Los Angeles Times Boeing B 17D The Swoose National Museum of the United States Air Force Retrieved October 5 2019 a b c Frank Kurtz lanbob com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Kurtz amp oldid 1172655493, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
