Bio, Flom, Fredrick R.

More regarding Fred Flom. This was posted on the F-105 Facebook Page (sent by River Rat Executive Director - Greg Lewis) - "One of the most difficult posts I will make. Col. Fred Flom passed away this morning at his summer lake cabin in Menasha, Wisconsin. Fred told us in January he was taking treatment for lung cancer. A few days later we learned it had spread to his lymphatics. A brief recap of his career, he was shot down in 62-4327 on August 6, 1966 and was taken POW for six and a half years. He was flying on the wing of Jim Kasler who was shot down while capping Flom and taken POW. Fred was with the 354th Takhli and flying his sixtieth or so mission. Upon release in '73, he went through requal in the T-38 at Randolph, then flew F-102's with the Wisconsin Guard for one year. He joined the 301st Carswell and was the only POW shot down in an F-105 to checkout in the airplane after the War. I flew his wing as a Lieutenant. I vividly recall my first flight with him. This flyby may have been our last together. He was a Major and a flight commander in '80, when the picture below was made. He was the 457th Carswell Squadron Commander during more difficult times that lay ahead for all of us. Twenty nine years of service. He flew for American Airlines from about '76 to 2000, retiring as a 767 Captain. He was 81. His wife Kay was at his side as was his daughter Julie, who blessed him with three grandsons, Dakota, Quinn, and Maxwell. One of them is a midshipman at the Naval Academy. I'm sure there will be a family service in Wisconsin. I would like to do something in Dallas or Ft. Worth when Kay returns. Don't know when that will be. What a difference that guy made in my life. I will be posting pictures of Fred and Kay to this post. Some I have yet scanned. Fred's name will remain on the canopy of 62-4346 at Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas Love Field as long as I am alive."