 Originally
from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Frank Speer enlisted in the
Army Air Corps in 1941 and graduated from flight school
in class 43-I. In March 1944, Speer was assigned to the
4th Fighter Group (formerly the Eagle Squadrons), where
he soon became an ace.
He was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The
Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Presidential
Unit Citation.
While flying a P-51 Mustang near Poland, Speer was
shot down and walked nearly 400 miles across northern
Germany in an attempt to reach Denmark. He was captured
after collapsing from exhaustion and lack of food.
Speer served 11 months in three different stalags,
including being forced to participate in the “Death
March” to Nuremberg. His third escape attempt
was successful and, with help from group of French
forced laborers, Speer and a friend captured 24 German
soldiers and an officer.
 He was discharged in 1946, but continued to serve
in the Air Force Reserve until 1955. As a civilian,
Speer has been a telephone engineer, an entrepreneur,
a food service company manager and a real estate agent.
He and his wife raised five successful children.
Speer is the author of three books about the 4th Fighter
Group in World War II, including Wingman, The Debden
Warbirds and One Down, One Dead. He is active in veterans’ organizations
and in speaking to schools, libraries and civic organizations.
He was a featured speaker for an Ohio school district
and also addressed the Cadet Corps of the Valley Forge
Military Academy. Speer has also been featured in the
Reading Air Show briefing room and the Wings Over Frederick
Air Show.
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