Frederick M. Trapnell

Frederick Mackay Trapnell
CPT Frederick Trapnell as CO, USS Coral Sea (CV-43)
Nickname(s)	"Trap", "Fred"
Born	(1902-07-09)July 9, 1902 Elizabeth, New Jersey
Died	January 30, 1975(1975-01-30) (aged 72) San Diego, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1923 – 1952
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Naval Air Test Center USS Coral Sea Sandia Base (deputy cmdr)
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Navy Commendation Medal

Frederick Mackay "Fred" Trapnell (July 9, 1902 – January 30, 1975) was a United States Navy admiral and aviation pioneer. Trapnell was the first US Navy pilot to fly a jet aircraft, was considered the best, most experienced naval test aviator of his generation, co-founded the branch's first test pilot school, and played a pivotal role in both the development of future Naval aircraft and the survival of the post-World War II Navy's air arm.

Trapnell was also a cousin of Bataan Death March survivor, LTG Thomas J. H. Trapnell and his nephew, the noted hijacker, Garrett Brock Trapnell.

Frederick Trapnell was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Benjamin Trapnell of Charles Town, West Virginia and Ada Probasco of Ohio. Trapnell came from a prosperous family with a long military tradition. His father and several cousins attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland—although Benjamin's military career was cut short by an infamous hazing incident. Several other cousins were officers in the United States Army as was his brother, Wallace Probasco Trapnell, who served in the Signal Corps. Following his father, Trapnell attended the Naval Academy, graduated, and was commissioned an ensign in 1923. After serving for two years at sea on board the battleship USS California and the cruiser USS Marblehead, Trapnell was assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola in 1926 for flight training, thus beginning his career as a naval aviator.