[Frank L. Gailer, Jr. oral history interview (Part 1 of 2)]

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Frank L. Gailer, Jr. discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. In part one, he describes his experiences as a fighter pilot and his time with the 353rd Fighter Squadron in England during World War II. Topics discussed include his personal background, his training history, and several combat missions over Germany and the Netherlands in 1944.

Frank L. Gailer, Jr. was born on November 13, 1923 in Bakersfield, California. He joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 and graduated from flight training the following year. Assigned to the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group, Gailer flew missions over mainland Europe and participated in Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands. Shot down in November 1944, he was captured by German forces and interned at the prisoner-of-war camp Stalag Luft I. Following his release at the end of the war, Gailer went on to serve in a number of command positions with various Air Force units, including the 6th Fighter Wing, the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, and the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. He also served as vice-commander of the Third Air Force before his retirement as a brigadier general in 1972. Afterwards, Gailer worked in the investment industry in San Antonio, Texas. He passed away in 2018.