Julian Andrew Frank was a lawyer from New York City. Not much is known about his early life, but he pursued a career in law and became well-known in his field. He was married and had a family, but there are limited details available about his personal relationships or upbringing.

On January 6, 1960, National Airlines Flight 2511, a Douglas DC-6B, was traveling from New York City to Miami, Florida. The plane took off at 11:52 p.m. with 29 passengers and 5 crew members on board. The flight was proceeding normally until about 2:31 a.m. when the crew made their last radio contact, indicating they were flying over a radio beacon. Shortly after, the aircraft suddenly exploded mid-air.

Witness accounts and evidence suggested that a farmer heard a strange noise and an explosion around 2:45 a.m. The search for wreckage began soon after, leading to a crash site near Bolivia, North Carolina. Bodies and debris were scattered across a 20-acre area, with 32 of the 34 people on board initially found. The last two bodies were later recovered, one being that of Julian Frank.

Investigators determined that the plane had disintegrated in flight. Autopsies were performed on the victims. Julian Frank's body was found with severe injuries that included amputation of both legs and numerous foreign objects embedded in his flesh. Those injuries were unlike typical crash-related damage.

Tests conducted on debris from the plane suggested an explosion was caused by a dynamite bomb placed in the passenger cabin. Chemical residues and wire fragments were found associated with the explosion site, specifically beneath a window seat.

The Civil Aeronautics Board concluded that the explosion caused the aircraft to lose structural integrity, leading to a right turn and subsequent crash into the ground. They identified the probable cause as a bomb detonation but did not determine who planted the bomb.

The FBI took over the case, which has remained open and unsolved. The investigation revealed that Frank had large life insurance policies, further deepening the mystery surrounding the events of that tragic night.