Frank Barrett

It is with great sadness that the family of Francis Llewellyn Barrett, 83, announces his peaceful passing on May 16th, 2022. Frank Barrett aka Papa, Uncle Frank, Frankie, GUF to his family, friends, and students was born to Eileen and Francis Barrett in Jacksonville, FL on December 24th, 1938 at 2 minutes before midnight. The decision was if he was born on the 25th his name would be Noel. Frank often gave thanks that he squeaked in before midnight.

The family had moved to New Orleans, LA in 1946, and after his father’s premature passing in 1951 Frank as the oldest child with two younger siblings, Jim and Pinkey, took on the role of “man of the house”. His childhood was spent enjoying the outdoors fishing, swimming, and playing on various sports teams in Jefferson Parish. He loved collecting snakes and other reptiles which for his sister immediately made his room off-limits. Frank was an industrious young man and worked to help with family expenses after his father’s passing. After his freshman year, he bought a snowball machine and was a big hit at the local park. With a childhood nickname “Big Grin Barrett”, Frank had a smile that could light up the world, and anyone who knew him had no question why. Frank attended public and parochial schools and then Jesuit High School where he won almost every available award in math and science, graduating in 1957 with a 4.0 GPA.

After graduation, Frank attended SW Louisiana now LSU-Lafayette for two years where his academic awards continued. He was accepted to the US Air Force Academy as part of its fifth class with aspirations to join the NASA astronaut program, majoring in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. He was a member of the Engineering Society, fenced, and was a falconer working with the Academy falcons. Frank graduated from the Air Force Academy 50th in his class of 499 graduates in the Class of 1963 with President John Kennedy speaking as an honorary member of the class.

Frank then attended graduate school at Purdue University in a special program that started a week after his graduation. The Air Force wanted candidates for astronaut training who had a Master's Degree in Astronautical Engineering, 1000 hours of flying time as a pilot, and a graduate of the Air Force Test Pilots School - all by age 25. Taking classes in the summer and fall semesters, he graduated and headed for pilot training at Williams AFB in Phoenix where he soloed in the T-37 trainer and then moved to the supersonic T-38. Upon graduating there in March 1965, he was assigned to qualification training in the F-4C. This was followed by three weeks of Air Force Survival School northwest of Reno involving classroom instruction, simulated POW camp, and a week in the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains learning to camp, survive, navigate, and evade “enemy” pursuers. All this led to F-4 training for five months at Davis Monthan AFB.

Frank was then assigned to the 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB in Florida in September 1965. In March 1966, Frank volunteered for a classified, hazardous assignment only knowing it involved attacking surface-to-air missile sites in North Vietnam. He trained with the first class of F-4C Wild Weasels in April 1966 at Nellis AFB in Nevada and the group deployed to Thailand and attended Survival Training in the Philippines jungle near Clark Air Base as required for all aircrews flying combat in Vietnam. The Wild Weasel crews started flying combat missions over North Vietnam in December 1966 and Frank was assigned to the famous 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Triple Nickels) of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing - commanded by the then Colonel Robin Olds. The Triple Nickels shot down 39 of the 137 MIGs killed by the Air Force over North Vietnam. Bob Hope called the squadron the “World’s largest distributor of MIG parts”. Frank flew 100+ combat missions over North Vietnam including the heavily-defended and dangerous area around Hanoi dealing with MIGS and surface-to-air missiles. Frank was upgraded to aircraft commander in the F-4C when he returned from Thailand. He received several commendations for his service in Vietnam, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Frank then returned to the Air Force Academy to teach and as a flight instructor with the T-41. At this point, he was introduced by fellow Academy graduates to the love of his life, Mary Bacon Mahony. Mary was widowed a few years earlier while married to Len Mahony, a graduate of the Academy from the first class, and the mother of three young boys, Mark, Kevin, and John. Frank and the boys hit it off immediately and their lives were forever transformed into the loving relationship that exists today. He instilled in them honesty and respect as well as his great interest in the outdoors, astronomy, science, and math. In 1971 Frank was transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson to begin training with the A-7 Corsair, the new Air Force attack plane. He was promoted to Major and did a second non-combat tour in Thailand near the end of the Vietnam War.

Following retirement from the Air Force in 1983, Frank returned to his great passion for teaching, beginning at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as well as several other universities with locations in Tucson. His love of teaching was lifelong and students raved about his passion and patience, earning the moniker "Uncle Frank" and multiple teaching awards. Frank and Mary have enjoyed traveling globally throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and spending quality time with family and friends.

Frank was raised in a strong Catholic environment and his exceptional devotion to his Catholic faith was lifelong. He was a member of the Sodality at Jesuit High and began as a mass server when he was six years old and continued through his years as a cadet at the Air Force Academy. His strong connection to his local parish continued throughout the remainder of his life as he served as a eucharistic minister.

Frank is survived by his wife of 52 years Mary, sons Mark, Kevin (Melinda), and John (Mary Kay); grandchildren Jason, Jenna (Sean), Kate, Aislinn, and Jack; great-grandchildren Clancy, Rowan, and Mick; sister Pinkey and her husband Jim, nephew Jay and niece Jennifer and their families. Frank was predeceased by his parents Eileen and Francis and his brother Dr. James Barrett.

An online recording of the Rosary and Funeral Mass can be seen at https://youtu.be/9r_Dv4X-hhM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Frank’s honor to Embry-Riddle Patron’s Fund via givingto.erau.ed or mailed by check to ERAU - Office of Philanthropy, 1 Aerospace Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL. 32114.