ROBERT C. FROSIO, CDR, USN
Robert Frosio '50
Lucky Bag
From the 1950 Lucky Bag:
ROBERT CLARENCE FROSIO
Pensacola, Florida
A word of warning—speak no good of the western land of liquid sunshine to this robust Pensacolan—Florida, where sunshine isn't merely false propaganda, has done herself proud in developing this six-foot Adonis—a little Valentino—who passed up a basketball and football scholarship to Vanderbilt that's only the beginning. He constitutes a threat in any sport —among others, baseball, swimming, and golf—was unanimously elected class treasurer—declared a profit, says he, but fails to say for whom—definitely the kind of guy people search for but rarely find—we'll be looking for Bob again soon.
ROBERT CLARENCE FROSIO
Pensacola, Florida
A word of warning—speak no good of the western land of liquid sunshine to this robust Pensacolan—Florida, where sunshine isn't merely false propaganda, has done herself proud in developing this six-foot Adonis—a little Valentino—who passed up a basketball and football scholarship to Vanderbilt that's only the beginning. He constitutes a threat in any sport —among others, baseball, swimming, and golf—was unanimously elected class treasurer—declared a profit, says he, but fails to say for whom—definitely the kind of guy people search for but rarely find—we'll be looking for Bob again soon.
Loss
Robert was lost on November 12, 1966 when his A-4E Skyhawk crashed while returning from a combat mission over North Vietnam. He collided with another aircraft from his squadron (Attack Squadron (VA) 12) while returning to USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42). The other pilot was also lost.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
In 1938, Robert was the first youngster to join the Fliers Knot-Hole club and was leader of the “gang” during that summer. He presented Wally Dashiell, former manager of the Fliers, with a traveling bag.
At age 10, Robert played Officer Buzz in the operetta, “Honey Pirate” at the Turner-Lee-Day school. The next year, he had the lead in the operetta “Springtime” playing the King.
Robert graduated from Pensacola High School in 1945. He was an outstandig athlete, starring in football and basketball. He attended Marion Institute in Marion, Alabama, where he was awarded the Judge Irby Pope medal by the student body for good sportsmanship. He then attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
At the inaugural dinner of the Y. M. C. A. building fund campaign in August 1944, Robert spoke on “A Challenge for a New Y. M. C. A. Building, from the Boyhood of Pensacola.”
Robert married Betty Calhoun in June, 1950. He won his wings of gold in March, 1952. He then reported to the Naval Air Advanced Training Command at Corpus Christi for further training in naval aviation. In March 1953, Robert flew Panther jet fighters over North Korea as a member of jet Fighter Squadron 53 operating from the attack carrier USS Valley Forge. He returned to the U.S. in July 1953.
His father Joseph was a retired Navy lieutenant and aviator who later was a teacher, guidance counselor, and director of the Boys Service Council in Pensacola. His brother was Lt. Joseph Frosio.
From the Pensacola News Journal, June 3, 1945:
Robert Clarence Frosio, 17 year old athlete was the 1945 recipient of the James M. Fleming trophy at Pensacola High school. Bob was presented with the trophy at fitting exercises Friday night in the high school auditorium as 229 fellow members of the senior class looked on.
The trophy was presented by County Solicitor Forsyth Caro, who was an outstanding athlete at the school back in --- well back in days before we had a brick school house.
Young Frosio, son of Lt. and Mrs. J. M. Frosio of Warrington, is planning a Naval career. Bob leaves this coming week for Marion Institute, Marion, Ala., where he will take a preparatory course for the Naval academy, his lone desire at the present moment. Bob expects to take the congressional examination next July and probably will get in two complete semesters at Marion before the time of the examination.
Frosio was not only a good athlete but was, in addition, an outstanding student and was president of the student body, another signal honor for the youngster.
As for athletics Bob was an end on the football team in 1944, which was undefeated. He was captain of the basketball team which won the state title in March at Jacksonville and was a pitcher on the baseball team.
We have enjoyed being associated with the athletic teams of Pensacola High school and during such time which has covered a span of three years, we have had ample time to have observed Bob Frosio as an athlete.
Frosio can make some college or university a fine athlete. As we view the youngster we see a more rounded out career in college circles for Bob than he enjoyed in high school. Basketball, which we believe is his main dish, could make Frosio an outstanding performer. Bobbie is large, agile and has the knack of beng able to think fast on the basketball floor. During the past year Bobbie probably developed more talent for basketball than any other member of the squad. In fact, Frosio is yet to arrive as a star in the sport but coud do so under college coaching.
As a baseball player, Frosio could develop fast. Bob’s big hands would give him natural poise for a pitcher. Frosio was a good offensive player on the Tiger gridiron squad. He was a sure pass receiver.
We wish Bob all the luck and success possible.
From the now-defunct website USNA 1950:
Bob was serving as commanding officer of Attack Squadron Twelve when killed flying an A4E Skyhawk returning to his ship from a night combat mission over North Viet Nam.
From the January 1967 issue of Shipmate:
The '50 detachment aboard USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT sadly reports the death of Bob FROSIO while attached to and serving as commanding officer of Attack Squadron Twelve. At the time of his death, he was piloting an A4E Skyhawk returning to the ship from a night combat mission over North Vietnam on 12 Nov. A beautiful and moving requiem mass and memorial service was held at the Station Chapel, NAS Cecil Field, on 15 Nov.
The column notes he was survived by his wife, Betty, and "children."
Bob has a memory marker in California.
Remembrances
From Wall of Faces:
Bob Frosio was my Godfather. I don't know too many details about him but I shall relate what I know. Bob's father had been one of the early Naval Aviators. Bob and my father were also Naval aviators during WW2 and probably met each other at Pensacola, Florida at least by 1944 when I was born and Baptised.
Because of the periodic change in duty stations in Naval careers, we moved on and I did not meet Bob again until about 1956 when he visited our home in Norfolk, Virginia. He impressed me as being an energetic, friendly person and he gave me a set of prints of navy airplanes. After that I never saw him again.
I learned about his death probably from my father. He said that Bob was the Commanding Officer of an A-4 squadron and that after a strike on Hanoi one of his pilots was returning to the carrier with an aircraft that had been damaged in the attack. The damage had disabled the aircraft's electrical system and the plane had no lights - and probably no radio etc. Bob turned back to help the pilot return to the ship but they somehow collided and crashed into the sea.
In the 90's I met a niece of his near San Diego where his parents had retired. CARL ROSENGRANT, ROSENG@SPAWAR.NAVY.MIL, 1/29/00
Photographs
From the Pensacola News Journal on March 16, 1953
From The Pensacola News on November 14, 1966
Distinguished Flying Cross
From Hall of Valor:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Commander Robert Clarence Frosio (NSN: 0-532815), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 21 August 1966, as flight leader of an eight-plane flight of A-4E aircraft against the Thanh Hoa Railway Station in North Vietnam.
General Orders: All Hands (September 1967)
Action Date: August 21, 1966
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
From Hall of Valor:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Commander Robert Clarence Frosio (NSN: 0-532815), United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) for sustained heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight from 10 August to 12 November 1966, in leading daily strikes against heavily defended targets in North Vietnam.
General Orders: All Hands (September 1967)
Action Date: August 10 - November 12, 1966
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Memorials
Robert is among those names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Memorial Hall Error?
Robert is not listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. While not an obvious error, inclusion on the panel for crashes like this (incidental to combat flights) has been inconsistent across WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
