ED O'NEIL PILOT, VICE PRESIDENT-FLIGHT OPERATIONS DEN Ed O'Neil died 9/75. -FARPA Newsletter (9/26/99) Unable to find anything in the Social Security Death Index -Jake Lamkins (9/27/99) I was leafing through the Obituary page today and although I can't supply any specific date info, on many of the pilot's listed there is no info at all. My memory is far from perfect but I thought I'd pass along what I remember about some of these guys. Ed O'Neil: Although Ed was originally a line pilot at FAL, he probably spent more time as VP Operations at FAL I negotiated pilot contracts across the table from Ed and he could be one tough cookie to deal with. Ed prided himself in that he had never ridden the elevator to his office the 3rd floor of the hanger to keep his heart and circulation systems in top shape. Sadly, it didn't help. He died of prostrate cancer. -H.A. "Frosty" Frost (11/26/99) Hi Jake, That was super of Frosty to have gone through the names to recall some tidbits about some of the fellows who have Flown West. I will add a couple of comments to those pilots Frosty listed that I recall something special about. On the (unfortunately) long list, I will try to do that another time. "Ed was a former ALPA MEC chairman and negotiated well for the pilots. Management recognized his talents and, of course, that made it tough for the pilots when Ed went into management. I always found him fair in his dealings. He sure gave me a good break when he typed me in the CV-580 out of seniority and granted me leave so I could get some command experience in SE Asia in '71-'72. There is quite a story in that as well. I will save it for another time." -Billy Walker (11/26/99) Jake, I am sorry I didn't give you enough information with the photos. M.E. O'Neil is Ed O'Neil, he was chief pilot and VP of operations. All these people except Ed O'Neil were dispatchers. Thanks, -Al Kendell (2/18/00) To FL pilots; I've been getting some photos onto the Obituary Page (Al Kendell sent a bunch) and updating the info I have. My question of the illustrious group to which this is addressed - should I put Ed O'Neil in the Pilot group or the Management group? Also, if you have any tidbits you want to add to his page, send them along too. I'm working on getting the names listed alphabetically - it will make the list easier to use, I believe. Also, please send along any photos of fellow pilots on the list which don't have one. Thanks again, -Jake Lamkins (2/21/00) Hi Jake, All I can add to this is that Ed O'Neil was both. He was a pilot for some time and then was promoted to management. I am pretty sure he was in management a lot longer than he was a pilot however. He died of colon cancer several years before I retired. Hope all is well with you and yours. -EP (Eldon Leitz) (2/22/00) Jake, I believe although Ed was V. P. Flight Operations, he also was an excellent and well-respected pilot. I'd vote for the pilot group. -Clyde Hart (2/22/00) Jake - I would put Ed O'Neil in the Pilot Group. He was one of the best pilots that I have ever flown with. Not only that - but he was Gen. Mark Clarke's personal pilot during WWII. -Ace Avakian (2/22/00) Jake, in my opinion he should be in both. He was an excellent pilot for Ray Wilson during WWII (along with Johnnie Myers) in Oklahoma's CPT program. He was a fine airman and skillful as the ALPA negotiator until lured into management where he became the VP of OPs. He always treated me fairly albeit he was tough. Some of the other fellows that were there considerable longer than I might offer a different perspective. -Billy Walker (2/22/00) Jake, I agree with Billy in regard to Ed O'Neil. It is impossible to make a distinction between his piloting and management position. Thanks for doing a good job. -Al Kendell (2/22/00) Billy - FYI - Ed was never a Chicashaw (sp?) pilot with Ray Wilson. Ed came to Monarch from Continental and he was Gen. Mark Clarke's private pilot during WWII. Dallas Taylor, for a while, flew top-brass in a C-54 also during WWII and knew Ed during that time. The only pilots that were with Ray Wilson were; Art Sinclair, Bert Clark, Jug Jella, Willie Hurt, Johnny Myers, Don Bridie and Warren Heckman. There may have been others but not with Monarch/Frontier. Just FYI With Best Wishes, -Ace Avakian (2/22/00) Forwarded by Billy Walker (2/22/00) Thank you Jake. For everyone's information Ed O'Neil was damned good at either job you want to place him in. Ed O'Neil was a very good airplane pilot and Frontier Airlines never again appointed his equal in management. He was fair. He didn't let any pilot get away with anything but I never knew any other man in that position that handled things as fairly as he did. I know there were times when he could have thrown the book at me. I was not always a meek little airplane driver. However he always treated me fair and square and I can never forget him. -EP Lietz (2/27/00) Article about Ed O'Neil and Mitch Mitchell sent by Al Kendell 8/25/02 -Jake In all the years of the Frontier News I don’t believe anyone has ever written anything on The Air Fairs that were held at cities to show appreciation. We held such a Fair at Grand Island, NE just prior to our starting regular flights. We would give free rides over the city for 15-20 minutes then back for another load. This was held in June or July 1959. (GRI service started 7/1/59) It was our first chance to work a actual flight and brush up on the new weight and balance , this was a CV-340 no less. Capt. Ed O’Neal and Capt. “Ev” Aden were the pilots for all the flights. Frontier Officials were in town for the day to meet the City fathers. Elton Snoke the Supt, of stations was there , the one I can remember. After all the flights we were invited down to the Yancey Hotel for a meal and a welcome to the City. We were just finishing up when an announcement came over the speaker that a hailstorm had went thru the airport, with lots of damage. So out to the airport we went. Our new CV-340 was pretty well beat up, Most of the windows on the terminal side were all broken, plus all the inspections ports on the tail were beat in, plus a lot of other damage, Aircraft was out of service for some time. The windows on the west side of the terminal were all broke - the glass and hailstones were almost a foot deep in front of the ticket counter, water 2-3 inches deep in all our offices. Every phone had someone on it calling Denver to advise of the storm. One of them had Mr. Snoke on it setting on a stool barefoot with blood dripping off his toe as he had taken his shoes off and had waded into the glass and hailstones. A couple of band aids fixed him up ok. Later that evening the aircraft was put in a hanger as another storm had been in the forecast. GRI manager was Menth Dexter along with agents Dean Head, Paul Kreitmann, Tom Blanchard and myself. That was our welcome to Grand Island ,NE I believe that same aircraft was also in the accident at Grand Island (SN73130 on 12/21/62). -Arnold W. Hadler (7/24/04) This may be Ed, it's the only one of 25 O'Neils who died Sep 75 that fits: MELVIN ONEIL Born 16 Sep 1915 Died Sep 1975 Age 60 SSN issued in Colorado -SSDI (5/31/05)