John Lee Frisbee – Colonel, United States Air Force

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From contemporary press report:

John Lee Frisbee, 83, an Air Force colonel who retired in 1969 after having served as chief of the research and analysis division in the office of the secretary of the Air Force, died of lung cancer August 26, 2000 at the Marshall Manor assisted living facility in Marshall, Virginia.

Colonel Frisbee also served as special assistant to the vice chief of staff in his last Air Force assignment before retiring. In retirement, he served 10 years as editor of Air Force Magazine in Washington. From 1983 until 1999, he wrote a monthly column, “Valor,” on Air Force heroes of World War II, Korea and Vietnam for the magazine. He also edited “Makers of the United States Air Force,” which was published by the Office of Air Force History.

Colonel Frisbee was a resident of Front Royal. He was born in Oneonta, New York, and graduated from Hartwick College. He had lived in the Washington area for 30 years. He began his military career during World War II and served during the war as a command pilot in Europe. After the war, he received a master’s degree in  international relations at Georgetown University. He also studied at the Armed Forces Staff College and the Canadian National Defense College.

He taught at the U.S. Military Academy and was the first head of the history department and acting head of the political science department at the U.S. Air Force Academy. His military decorations included a Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Air Force
Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

His wife of 56 years, Lucy Putnam Post, died in 1997.

Survivors include four sons, John Lee Frisbee III of Concord, N.H., Ralph Putnam Frisbee of Gaithersburg, Stephen Vincent Frisbee of Palm Desert, Calif., and Philip Langley Frisbee II of The Plains; and seven grandchildren.

FRISBEE, JOHN LEE, Col., USAF (Ret.)

On August 26, 2000, of Front Royal, VA, husband of the late Lucy Post Frisbee; father of Philip L. Frisbee, The Plains, VA, John Lee Frisbee, III, Concord, NH, Ralph Putnam Frisbee, Gaithersburg, MD, and Steven Vincent Frisbee, Palm Desert, CA. Also survived by seven grandchildren. Services will be held on Tuesday, September 5, at 3 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, VA. Interment, Wednesday, September 6, at 11 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Friends of the Bull Run, Box 210, Broad Run, VA 20137.

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