- Date Of Birth: July 18, 1920
- Date Of Death: October 22, 2008
- State: New Jersey
Frank M. Nehlig
July 18, 1920 – October 22, 2008
88, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Roseanna Nehlig in Sept. 2007. Frank was born and raised in Collingswood, NJ. Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, Steven Nehlig and Valerie Zajac Nehlig, his grandson, S. Kurt Nehlig and his wife Dr. Susan Blackwell Nehlig, all of Annandale, NJ.Frank joined the U.S. Navy in 1940, serving stateside until receiving his wings as a Naval Aviation Pilot in 1945, serving in several post war Pacific island occupations and attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He left the Navy in 1952 to join American Airlines as a pilot. He found his career at American Airlines interesting and exciting, being promoted to Captain in 1964 on the Boeing 707 and later the DC-10 and B-747. As Captain he served as Military Air Charter Co-ordinator, overseeing the civilian airline return of military personnel from Vietnam. Later, he was promoted to Chief Pilot and Base Manager of the American Airlines, Los Angeles Base, retiring in 1980.A few years after retiring he became a consultant to American Airlines as a simulator instructor for contract training of Air National Guard Pilots flying KC-135s, continuing in this program until the age of 82. Frank and Roseanna moved to Flemington, NJ in 2002 to be close to family, they had formerly resided in Pensacola, FL, Hicksville, NY, East Brunswick, NJ, Camarillo, CA, Playa del Rey, CA and Arlington, TX.Being very proud of his long association with American Airlines, he was a perennial spokesman for both American Airlines and aviation personnel in general, and it was said that he truly never met a pilot he didn’t like. He was awarded the American Airlines Spirit of American Award in 1995.
