Frank D. Lewis

By zthanson, 1 December, 2022
First Name
Frank
Middle Name
D.
Last Name
Lewis
Birthdate
Hometown
Boston, Massachusetts
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Air Force suit.
PreCapture Description

Frank D. Lewis entered Officer Training School on July 5, 1967, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force at Lackland AFB, Texas, on September 29, 1967. Lieutenant Lewis completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Moody AFB, Georgia, in December 1968, and F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training in September 1969. His first assignment was as an F-4 Pilot Systems Operator with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from October 1969 to November 1970, followed by service as a B-52 Stratofortress pilot with the 441st Bomb Squadron at Mather AFB, California, from November 1970 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War.

Post Release Description

Captain Lewis was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover form his injuries at Travis AFB, California, and then served with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California, from September 1973 to May 1976. Colonel Lewis then completed an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to complete his graduate degree in engineering physics before serving as an engineer in the Laser Signal Intelligence Group at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, from December 1978 to July 1983. His final assignments were as a RAND Research Fellow and on the staff at Headquarters U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon from July 1983 until his retirement from the Air Force on May 1, 1989.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
  • Bronze Star
  • Prisoner of War Medal


 

Passed away before release
Post Release