Frank X. McCawley

Colonel Frank X. McCawley (USAFR, Ret.) of Cheverly, MD, slipped the surly bonds of earth on Saturday, November 19, 2016. He was 92 years of age.  Born Francis Xavier McCawley in Scranton, PA, on May 18, 1924, he was the son of the late Matthew L. and Viola Holl McCawley.  He attended public schools in Scranton and graduated from the city’s Central High School in January 1942. He spent a year working for the International Text Book Press before enlisting in the Army Air Corp on December 7, 1942.  After basic training in Miami Beach, FL, and advanced ground radio communication training in Missouri, Frank was shipped to England as part of the Eighth Air Force where he volunteered for flight duty.  He was assigned to the 549th Bombardment Squadron, 385th Bombardment Group as a Staff Sargent and radio operator in a B-17G.  Between December 1943 and June 1944 he flew 30 combat missions over Occupied Europe including 3 missions to Berlin.  He was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement. He was cited by his commanders on two occasions for the safe return of his plane and crewmates due to his ability to obtain course information in poor flying conditions.  He remained in England through VE Day as an instructor for new flight crews.  He was discharged in September 1945.  In 1953, he enlisted in the Air Force Reserves with the 459th Troop Carrier Wing stationed at Andrews Air Force Base. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant the same year.  He retired from the 459th Tactical Airlift Wing in 1985 as Deputy Commander with the rank of Colonel in 1983. In 1945, Frank enrolled at the University of Scranton graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in May 1949.  While at the University, he also served as manager of the baseball team.  After graduation, he moved to the Washington, DC, area to look for work. He briefly worked for US Post Office before gaining employment as an electro-metallurgist with Chicago Development Corporation, an industrial research laboratory based in Riverdale, Md.  In 1958, he went to work for the College Park Metallurgy Research Center of the Bureau of Mines, US Dept. of Interior in College Park, MD.  His early work was on the electrodeposition of metal coatings especially titanium and platinum.  He later worked on developing anti-corrosive metals for use with geothermal projects in the Imperial Valley, California.  He co-authored numerous technical reports and articles in scientific journals and his work produced several patents.  He retired from the Bureau of Mines in 1984. In 1952, Frank married Margaret (Peggy) Ann O’Donnell of Scranton. In 1954 the couple settled in Cheverly, Md , where they raised five children. Frank was a man of many interests and his hobbies included bowling, camping, coin-collecting, gardening, boating, crabbing, and fishing. He collected HO trains and every year would build an elaborate layout to go under the family Christmas tree.  Frank could be easily persuaded to run the trains whenever anyone stopped by the house, including the kids, grandchildren or great grandchildren.  After retirement, Frank became active in several military organizations; including the Employer Support for Guard and Reserve, the 385th Bombardment Group Association and the 459th Wing Association.  He served for many years as editor of the 385th Bombardment Group Association newsletter. The couple loved to travel and over the years visited numerous locations in the US and around the globe. Frank spent many hours fishing on the Chesapeake Bay and local rivers on his boat; eventually buying property in Ocean City, MD.  After spending the winter months traveling, Frank and Peggy would spend the summer in Ocean City at Bradley on the Bay, fishing, crabbing, and boating around Assateague Island. He could often be seen on the dock at Bradley checking his boat and his crab pots. He served on the Boards of the Bradley on the Bay Condo Association and the Ocean Beach Condo Association for many years.  Frank was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Parish for over sixty years.  He is survived by his widow, Peggy (O’Donnell) McCawley of Cheverly, daughters Maureen Burke of Cheverly, MD, and Nancy Williams of Hanover, PA, sons Patrick McCawley (Cynthia) of Chapin, SC and Edward McCawley (Lourdes) of Purceville, VA, brothers James McCawley of Scranton, PA, and Joseph McCawley (Sharon) of Moosic, PA and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his sons, William and John and daughter, Frances. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum or the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.