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, he shot down more than 13 enemy aircraft over the Dunkirk evacuation beaches and during the Battle of Britain before being killed in action.

His father was killed in action in France in 1917 with the King's Royal Rifle Corps[1][2] Franklin was educated at Thomas Street Central School, Limehouse.

[3] In January 1929 Franklin joined the Royal Air Force as an aircraft apprentice with the service number 562984 and passed out from the No.

[8] At the outbreak of war in September 1939 Franklin was an experienced flight sergeant Supermarine Spitfire Mark I pilot still serving with No.

Camera gun footage from this date shows Franklin inflicting damage upon a Bf109E (resulting in its starboard landing gear leg descending), but unfortunately the other aircraft engaged is a Hawker Hurricane, a confirmed case of friendly fire that resulted in the death of Squadron Leader J.D.C.

On the following day off Dover, he claimed another Bf 109 an aircraft of II Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 51, probably flown by Uffz.

On 16 August 1940 Franklin was in action with Luftwaffe aircraft off Deal, where he shot down a Bf 109 and damaged a Dornier Do 17.

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

[19][13][37][38][39] 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.

One day in June, 1940, in company with his squadron, Flight Sergeant Franklin engaged fifteen to twenty Messerschmitt 109's and destroyed two.

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.