475th's Aces
Captain Franklin H. Monk
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| Franklin Herman Monk was born on 15 December 1915, and listed Peoria, Illinois as his
hometown when he joined the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. He was commissioned as a
second lieutenant at Roswell, New Mexico on 10 March 1943. Less than six months later he
reported to the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group in the Southwest Pacific,
flying the P-38H Lightning in New Guinea. Second Lieutenant Monk flew his first missions from Port Moresby that fall, and claimed his first Japanese plane over Oro Bay when he shot down a Mitsubishi A6M Zeke on 15 October. It was one of 11 victories credited to the 431st that day. He added another Zeke over Cape Gloucester the day after Christmas. In March 1944 "Satan's Angels" moved to Nadzab, New Guinea and Monk claimed yet another Zeke during a dogfight over Hollandia on the 31st. The 431st Squadron operated from that base itself in May, but in June the Japanese decided they wanted it. On 16 June, near Jefman, the 431st claimed nine victories, including a Nakajima Oscar destroyed by Monk. He had claimed five victories in five encounters with Japanese aircraft. Returning to the States in January 1945, Monk left the service after the war and moved to Portland, Oregon. There he worked at various jobs until his death in Portland in December 1981 at age 66. |
