Frank B. Alford, U.S. Air Force (Ret), born in Rising Star, Texas June 24, 1920, died Sunday, March 27, 2011 in San Antonio at age 90.
He was in schooling at Texas A&M at the time of the Pear Harbor attack. He immediately joined the Army Air Corps, trained as a pilot, and began his combat career as a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth Air Force in the 1943-44 air assault against Germany.
In 1947 he finished his engineering schooling at Texas A&M and began a career directed toward the research and development tasks of the Air Force Systems Command. He held progressively more responsible assignments in the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, weapons systems development programs, and technical intelligence of foreign (principally Soviet) weapons system.
In 1969 he was appointed to control configuration of the Titan III space launch rocket system, and in 1970 he became Director, engineering and test of the Titan III. In 1973 he became Director of Production for weapons systems intelligence, Air Force Technology Division. During his military engineering career he participated in innumerable engineering, planning, and budgetary decisions with Air Force staffs at every level.
He also worked closely for many years with National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials on rocket engine and space booster programs. In his career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medals from both the Army and the Air Force, and numerous campaign medals.
He was married to a San Antonio girl, Marjorie Conway who passed away in 2004. Their three children and families are Colonel (Ret) Ben and Theresa Alford of San Antonio, with children, Molly, Sarah and Emily; daughter, Susanne Alford of Athens, GA, and granddaughter, Doctor Katherine Fowler of Athens, GA, and daughter, Colonel (Ret) Laura Counts of Denver, CO, and great grandson, James Sager of Athens, GA. In addition to his children, he is survived by his wife, Phyllis Alford of San Antonio, TX.
He was in schooling at Texas A&M at the time of the Pear Harbor attack. He immediately joined the Army Air Corps, trained as a pilot, and began his combat career as a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth Air Force in the 1943-44 air assault against Germany.
In 1947 he finished his engineering schooling at Texas A&M and began a career directed toward the research and development tasks of the Air Force Systems Command. He held progressively more responsible assignments in the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, weapons systems development programs, and technical intelligence of foreign (principally Soviet) weapons system.
In 1969 he was appointed to control configuration of the Titan III space launch rocket system, and in 1970 he became Director, engineering and test of the Titan III. In 1973 he became Director of Production for weapons systems intelligence, Air Force Technology Division. During his military engineering career he participated in innumerable engineering, planning, and budgetary decisions with Air Force staffs at every level.
He also worked closely for many years with National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials on rocket engine and space booster programs. In his career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medals from both the Army and the Air Force, and numerous campaign medals.
He was married to a San Antonio girl, Marjorie Conway who passed away in 2004. Their three children and families are Colonel (Ret) Ben and Theresa Alford of San Antonio, with children, Molly, Sarah and Emily; daughter, Susanne Alford of Athens, GA, and granddaughter, Doctor Katherine Fowler of Athens, GA, and daughter, Colonel (Ret) Laura Counts of Denver, CO, and great grandson, James Sager of Athens, GA. In addition to his children, he is survived by his wife, Phyllis Alford of San Antonio, TX.
Frank B. Alford, U.S. Air Force (Ret), born in Rising Star, Texas June 24, 1920, died Sunday, March 27, 2011 in San Antonio at age 90.
He was in schooling at Texas A&M at the time of the Pear Harbor attack. He immediately joined the Army Air Corps, trained as a pilot, and began his combat career as a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth Air Force in the 1943-44 air assault against Germany.
In 1947 he finished his engineering schooling at Texas A&M and began a career directed toward the research and development tasks of the Air Force Systems Command. He held progressively more responsible assignments in the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, weapons systems development programs, and technical intelligence of foreign (principally Soviet) weapons system.
In 1969 he was appointed to control configuration of the Titan III space launch rocket system, and in 1970 he became Director, engineering and test of the Titan III. In 1973 he became Director of Production for weapons systems intelligence, Air Force Technology Division. During his military engineering career he participated in innumerable engineering, planning, and budgetary decisions with Air Force staffs at every level.
He also worked closely for many years with National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials on rocket engine and space booster programs. In his career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medals from both the Army and the Air Force, and numerous campaign medals.
He was married to a San Antonio girl, Marjorie Conway who passed away in 2004. Their three children and families are Colonel (Ret) Ben and Theresa Alford of San Antonio, with children, Molly, Sarah and Emily; daughter, Susanne Alford of Athens, GA, and granddaughter, Doctor Katherine Fowler of Athens, GA, and daughter, Colonel (Ret) Laura Counts of Denver, CO, and great grandson, James Sager of Athens, GA. In addition to his children, he is survived by his wife, Phyllis Alford of San Antonio, TX.
He was in schooling at Texas A&M at the time of the Pear Harbor attack. He immediately joined the Army Air Corps, trained as a pilot, and began his combat career as a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth Air Force in the 1943-44 air assault against Germany.
In 1947 he finished his engineering schooling at Texas A&M and began a career directed toward the research and development tasks of the Air Force Systems Command. He held progressively more responsible assignments in the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, weapons systems development programs, and technical intelligence of foreign (principally Soviet) weapons system.
In 1969 he was appointed to control configuration of the Titan III space launch rocket system, and in 1970 he became Director, engineering and test of the Titan III. In 1973 he became Director of Production for weapons systems intelligence, Air Force Technology Division. During his military engineering career he participated in innumerable engineering, planning, and budgetary decisions with Air Force staffs at every level.
He also worked closely for many years with National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials on rocket engine and space booster programs. In his career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medals from both the Army and the Air Force, and numerous campaign medals.
He was married to a San Antonio girl, Marjorie Conway who passed away in 2004. Their three children and families are Colonel (Ret) Ben and Theresa Alford of San Antonio, with children, Molly, Sarah and Emily; daughter, Susanne Alford of Athens, GA, and granddaughter, Doctor Katherine Fowler of Athens, GA, and daughter, Colonel (Ret) Laura Counts of Denver, CO, and great grandson, James Sager of Athens, GA. In addition to his children, he is survived by his wife, Phyllis Alford of San Antonio, TX.
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