Captain Frederick R. Bartlett was born in Lakewood, Ohio on 22 June 1930. He grew up Wyncote, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts, where he captained the swim and tennis teams.

Fred enlisted in the Navy in 1952 at the height of the Korean War. He became a Naval Aviator, assault helicopter pilot with HA(L)-3, Vietnam, a fixed wing patrol pilot and instructor, and XO of USS Iwo Jima, which led the minesweeping operation in the Suez Canal after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Captain Bartlett (known as “Black Bart”) was a consummate career Naval Aviator. A jack of all trades, he flew fixed wing prop planes, jet aircraft and helicopters.

A long-time North Kingstown, RI resident, he retired in 1978, then taught history at Valley Forge Military Academy in PA. He was a highly successful competitive swimmer, and in his later years became a champion triathlete. Bartlett competed in multiple Ironman events, including the 2000 Hawaiian Ironman at the age of 70. He died in 2020.