William Henry Franklin

William Henry Franklin, DFM and Bar (2 October 1911 – 12 December 1940) also known as Bill Franklin was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and a notable Second World War flying ace decorated for gallantry twice times, he shot down more than 13 enemy aircraft over the Dunkirk evacuation beaches and during the Battle of Britain before being killed in action.

Early life

William Franklin was born at Mile End, London, England on 2 October 1911, the son of Harriett Amelia (née Parker) and George Franklin, who had married at St.Paul's Church, Bethnal Green on 25 April 1909. George was a wire splicer. The couple lived at 20 Pattison Street Stepney with his parents. Their first child John was born in November 1909, followed by William on 2 October 1911 and Alfred in October 1913. Finding better paid employment as a window cleaner, George and his family moved to their own home at 2 Baffin Buildings, Prestons Road Poplar, before the outbreak of war. In October 1915 he was conscripted for military service and joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps leaving his young family at 13 Hawgood Street, Devons Road, Bow. He went to France in early 1917 with No. 15 Platoon, D-Company, 7th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps and was killed in action on 29 March 1917. By that time, the family were living at 42 Ontario Buildings, Prestons Street, from where his wife wrote just weeks later asking for clarification of a letter she had received, stating that her husband had been killed in action.^[1][2] The children were educated at Thomas Street Central School, Limehouse.^[3]

Royal Air Force

Gloster Gladiator I at Shuttleworth Airshow, 2010

In January 1929 Franklin joined the Royal Air Force as an aircraft apprentice with the service number 562984 and passed out from the No. 1 School of Technical Training RAF based at RAF Halton in December 1931 as an aircraft engine fitter.^[4] After spending time servicing the aircraft he applied for flight training and was accepted.^[5] By the early 1930s Franklin had earned his pilot's aircrew brevet, promotion to sergeant followed and he married Louise Eliza Kogel in March 1937 at Poplar in London and very soon afterwards was posted to join B-Flight of No. 65 Squadron RAF at RAF Hornchurch flying Gloster Gladiator fighters,^[6] one of his fellow pilots was Pilot Officer Robert Stanford Tuck and other young pilot officers were men who would later rise to high rank, some achieving flying ace status.^[7] Still commanded by Squadron Leader Desmond Cooke the squadron converted to Supermarine Spitfire Mark I aircraft in March 1939.^[8] At the outbreak of war in September 1939 Franklin was an experienced flight sergeant Supermarine Spitfire Mark I pilot still serving with No. 65 Squadron RAF

The Battle of France and Dunkirk

No. 65 Squadron RAF went into action in May 1940 during the Battle of France, Franklin scored several early successes. On 22 May 1940 he shared a Junkers Ju 88 bomber damaged near Calais, on 24 May 1940 he shared in the destruction of a Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft which crashed in flames,^[9][10] on 26 May 1940 he destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter and a Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin engine fighter,^[11] on 27 May 1940 destroying a Junkers Ju 88 bomber and sharing a Dornier Do 17 bomber.^[12] His final success in this period was on 28 May 1940 sharing in the destruction of another Dornier Do 17 over Dunkirk.^{[13][14][15][16]}

On 25 June 1940 he shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters over Abbeville.^{[17][18][19][20][21]} Franklin was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on 9 July 1940.^[22][23]

The Battle of Britain

Spitfire Mk IIa P7350 of the BBMF is the only existing airworthy Spitfire that fought in the Battle of Britain.

On 7 July 1940 he shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters in the Dover-Folkestone area. Jagdwaffe suffered no loss or damaged plane, unfortunately. No. 65 Squadron lost three pilots during this combat. On the following day off Dover, he shot down another Bf 109 an aircraft of II Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 51. He probably killed Uffz. Konrad Schneideberger of 7./JG 51. ^[24] On 25 July 1940 again off Dover, he allegedly forced down another Bf 109 into the English Channel. This confirmed victory at around 12.45 off Dover is not probable. The only possibility is that he damaged Bf 109E-1 of 5./JG 51 with Uffz. Paul Obst. Pilot was wounded and force-landed at Saint-Inglevert. RAF claimed at least 25 Me 109s, but only 7 were lost.^[25] On 26 July he destroyed another near Folkestone. No match in Luftwaffe records again.^[26] On 5 August 1940 he shot down two more Bf 109 fighters in two sorties. One mid-Channel at 09.00, second off Dover around 15.00. Third at the same space of time was claimed as damaged. One slightly damaged could be flown by leutnant Reinhard Seiler of Jagdgeschwader 54.^[27] second machine from I./JG 54 was dameged from 35 %, but pilot was unhurt. Obfw. Schmid of 1./JG 51 was killed that day by enemy fighters, another machine from 8./JG51 was damaged from 40 % and force-landed.^[28] RAF FC claimed 9 destroyed Me 109, but only one was lost. On 16 August 1940 he was in action with Luftwaffe aircraft off Deal, where he shot down a Bf 109 and damaged a Dornier Do 17.^{[29][30][31][32]}

Franklin was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Medal on 13 August 1940.^[33][34]

On 20 August 1940 he was posted to RAF Hornchurch base staff due to sickness, but rejoined No. 65 Squadron RAF operationally on 13 October 1940.^[35]

Flight Sergeant Franklin was commissioned on 13 October 1940, with effect from 18 September 1940, as pilot officer service number 44753.^[36]

Death

On the afternoon of 12 December 1940 Franklin was flying as Green 1 with "B" flight of Supermarine Spitfires of No. 65 Squadron RAF, when they intercepted a reconnaissance Junkers Ju 88 of 4(F)/121 over the sea off Selsey. He was flying Spitfire serial number "R6978". Return fire from the bombers air gunners was intense and accurate, shooting down two of the British fighters and enabling the bomber to escape. P/O Merrick Hubert Eric Hine (Green 3) was killed in R6982. Franklin did not return from this mission.^{[37][38][39][40][41]}

Honours and awards

• Distinguished Flying Medal awarded to No. 562984 Flight Sergeant William Henry Franklin on 9 July 1940.^[42][43]

Citation: During a period of six days in May, 1940, Flight Sergeant Franklin took part in numerous offensive patrols over Northern France and on eight occasions was in combat with the enemy. He has himself shot down one Junkers and two Messerschmitt aircraft and in company with his section he has destroyed three other enemy aircraft. One day in June, 1940, in company with his squadron, Flight Sergeant Franklin engaged fifteen to twenty Messerschmitt 109's and destroyed two. Throughout these engagements he has shown great skill, courage and determination in pressing home his attacks. On one occasion he chased an enemy aircraft more than 20 miles, almost at ground level, before destroying it.^[44]

• Bar to the Distinguished Flying Medal awarded to No. 562984 Flight Sergeant William Henry Franklin DFM on 13 August 1940.^[45][46]

Citation: Since 22 May 1940, this airman has shot down ten enemy aircraft and assisted in destroying a further two.On two occasions during these engagements he shot down two Messerschmitt l09's in one sortie. On another occasion, after chasing a Messerschmitt across the Channel to Calais he encountered seven enemy fighters five of which he engaged, destroying one of them. His skill, courage and determination are of the highest order.^[47]

See also

• List of World War II flying aces

Bibliography

• Franks, Norman (1997). Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses, Volume 1. Earl Shilton: Midland Counties. ISBN 1-857800559.
• Shores, Christopher (1994). Aces High. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
• Foreman, John (2003). RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims, Part One. Walton-on-Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 0-9538061-8-9.
• Foreman, John (1988). Battle of Britain - the forgotten months. New Malden: Air Research. ISBN 1871187028.
• Mason, Francis (1969). Battle Over Britain. London: McWhirter Brothers. ISBN 0-901928-00-3.
• Foreman, John (1996). The Fighter Command War Diaries. Walton-on-Thames: Air Research. ISBN 1-871187-34-6.
• Shores, Christopher (1999). Aces High, Volume 2. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-00-0.
• Wynn, Kenneth (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norfolk: Gliddon. ISBN 1473847672.
• Ramsey, Winston (1989). Battle of Britain: Then and Now -V. London: After The Battle. ISBN 0-900913-46-0.
• Ramsey, Winston (1989). The Blitz: Then and Now –Volume 2. London: After The Battle. ISBN 0-900913-54-1.
• Foreman, John (2005). RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims, Part Two. Walton-on-Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 0-9546201-5-1.
• Tavender, Ian (1990). The Distinguished Flying Medal. JB Hayward. ISBN 0-903754-47-9.

References