BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANKLIN ROSE
Franklin Rose was born in Fort Riley, Kan., in 1900, the son of Major James A. Rose, U.S. Army, retired. During his youth he lived on Army posts, and after graduation from high school at St. Louis, Mo., entered the service as a flying cadet in 1918.
He was relieved from active duty in 1919 and organized a flying circus, touring western states doing stunt flying. One of the first stunt flyers for motion pictures, General Rose was the first man to change from a moving automobile to an airplane, and also was the first to do that trick from a motorcycle.
General Rose received a commission in the Air Corps Reserve in March 1922.
General Rose flew the first contract mail plane from Elko, Nev., to Boise, Idaho in April 1926. From 1931 to 1934 he operated the Varney Speed Lines of Oakland, Calif., air-ferrying across the San Francisco Bay and an airline out of Oakland to Los Angeles-Mexico City-Guatemala. In 1933 he demonstrated the new Lockheed airplane in European capitals. On his return, he organized Franklin Rose Aircraft, Inc., to sell aircraft and operate a chain of schools and maintenance shops at Oakland, Calif.
In 1940 General Rose was called to active duty with the Technical Training Command at Chanute Field, Ill. After establishing an air mechanics course at the Boeing School of Aeronautics he was made Western District supervisor for the Technical Training Command, in which capacity he organized the Los Angeles Civilian Schools Area. Later, he was director of Training and Operations and then air inspector of the Technical Training Command. In July 1943 he assumed command of the Los Angeles Civilian Schools Area of the Air Forces Western Technical Training Command, and served in that capacity until reverting to inactive status in March 1946.
General Rose, however, continued his interest in the Air Force serving in the Active Reserve program at the Hamilton Air Force Base Reserve Training Center, where he commanded the 325th Air Division. On Feb. 6, 1948, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Recalled to active duty on April 1, 1951, General Rose assumed command of the 349th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium), Tactical Air Command and a month later was named acting chief of staff, TAC, at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Soon thereafter he was appointed an air umpire for the "Southern Pine" maneuvers, with station at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and that September was assigned to the Umpire Group for Exercise "Snow Fall", with station at Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C.
Still with TAC in May 1952, General Rose Assumed command of the 375th Troop Carrier Wing at Donaldson, and that July became commanding general of the 64th Troop Carrier Wing there. In October 1953 General Rose assumed command of the 465th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium), TAC, at Mitchel Air Force Base, N.Y., later taking it overseas to U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with duty station in France.
Transferred to USAFE on May 10, 1954, General Rose assumed command of the 322nd Air Division in Germany.
(Up to date as of May 1954)
He was relieved from active duty in 1919 and organized a flying circus, touring western states doing stunt flying. One of the first stunt flyers for motion pictures, General Rose was the first man to change from a moving automobile to an airplane, and also was the first to do that trick from a motorcycle.
General Rose received a commission in the Air Corps Reserve in March 1922.
General Rose flew the first contract mail plane from Elko, Nev., to Boise, Idaho in April 1926. From 1931 to 1934 he operated the Varney Speed Lines of Oakland, Calif., air-ferrying across the San Francisco Bay and an airline out of Oakland to Los Angeles-Mexico City-Guatemala. In 1933 he demonstrated the new Lockheed airplane in European capitals. On his return, he organized Franklin Rose Aircraft, Inc., to sell aircraft and operate a chain of schools and maintenance shops at Oakland, Calif.
In 1940 General Rose was called to active duty with the Technical Training Command at Chanute Field, Ill. After establishing an air mechanics course at the Boeing School of Aeronautics he was made Western District supervisor for the Technical Training Command, in which capacity he organized the Los Angeles Civilian Schools Area. Later, he was director of Training and Operations and then air inspector of the Technical Training Command. In July 1943 he assumed command of the Los Angeles Civilian Schools Area of the Air Forces Western Technical Training Command, and served in that capacity until reverting to inactive status in March 1946.
General Rose, however, continued his interest in the Air Force serving in the Active Reserve program at the Hamilton Air Force Base Reserve Training Center, where he commanded the 325th Air Division. On Feb. 6, 1948, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
Recalled to active duty on April 1, 1951, General Rose assumed command of the 349th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium), Tactical Air Command and a month later was named acting chief of staff, TAC, at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Soon thereafter he was appointed an air umpire for the "Southern Pine" maneuvers, with station at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and that September was assigned to the Umpire Group for Exercise "Snow Fall", with station at Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C.
Still with TAC in May 1952, General Rose Assumed command of the 375th Troop Carrier Wing at Donaldson, and that July became commanding general of the 64th Troop Carrier Wing there. In October 1953 General Rose assumed command of the 465th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium), TAC, at Mitchel Air Force Base, N.Y., later taking it overseas to U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with duty station in France.
Transferred to USAFE on May 10, 1954, General Rose assumed command of the 322nd Air Division in Germany.
(Up to date as of May 1954)
