Date of birth:

January 25th, 1912 (Golders Green-London, Great Britain)

Date of death:

May 9th, 1948

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves St. Mary Churchyard

Service number:

39612

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Frank Howell joined the RAF on a short service commission.
In November 1939 he was posted at No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron after a posting in Egypt.
He saw action over Dunkirk and made several claims during the Battle of Britain. After receving his second DFC, he was sent out to Singapore. He was given command of No. 243 Squadron flying Brewster Buffaloes. When the Japanese invaded Malaya, he and other officers escaped the peninsula together by ship which was subsequently hit by a bomb. Several officers were killed but Howell was rescued by other vessels. The next morning he was captured though and spent the rest of the war as a PoW of the Japanese.
Repatriated after the Japanese surrender in 1945, he remained in the RAF. He was promoted to Wing Commander.
Whilst filming Vampires taking off on May 5th, 1948, he died when he was hit by a wing-tip of one.

Promotions:
May 3th, 1937: Acting Pilot Officer on probation;
March 1st, 1938: Pilot Officer;
September 1st, 1939: Flying Officer;
September 3th, 1940: Flight Lieutenant;
December 1st, 1941: Temporary Squadron Leader;
September 1st, 1945: Flight Lieutenants (permanent, seniority December 1st, 1942);
November 15th, 1946: Squadron Leader (war subs.);
November 1st, 1947: Squadron Leader (seniority August 1st, 1947).

Career:
March 1st, 1937 - April 30th, 1937: AST, Antsy;
May 1st, 1937 - August 7th, 1937: No. 3 FTS, Grantham;
August 24th, 1937 - November 26th, 1937: South Cerney;
November 1937: No. 25 (F) Squadron, Hawkinge;
March 27th, 1938: No. 80 Squadron, Ismailia;
June 13th, 1938 - September 25th, 1938: No. 4 FTS;
August 28th, 1939: No. 80 Squadron;
November 14th, 1939: No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Drem;
June 1st, 1940: Flight Commander 'A' Flight, No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron;
February 23rd, 1941: Acting Squadron Leader No. 118 Squadron;
December 6th, 1941: Squadron Leader No. 243 Squadron;
December 1941: Headquarters Fighter Command, Singapore;
December 10th, 1941: Aboard H.M.S. Prince of Wales wen it sunk;
February 16th, 1942 - August 15th, 1945: POW to Japanese;
March 18th, 1946 - April 9th, 1946: No. 110 Refresher Unit, Wittering;
April 9th, 1946 - May 24th, 1946: No. 17 SFTS, Coleby Grange;
August 17th, 1946 - June 30th, 1947: HQ Fighter Command;
January 5th, 1948 - January 23rd, 1948: IF Course, No. 1 Squadron, Tangmere;
January 12th, 1948: Commanding Officer No. 54 Squadron, Odiham;
May 8th 1948: died after accident.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

Flight Commander, A Flight, No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

October 25th, 1940

Citation:
"This officer has shot down four enemy aircraft, has been partly responsible for the destruction of five more and has damaged several others. He has led both the squadron and his flight with skill and determination, which have undoubtedly contributed greatly to recent successes. Flight Lieutenant Howell's keenness and energy combined with his courage and leadership in many combats have set a splendid example to the rest of the squadron."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 118 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

November 4th, 1941

• Photo 1: Nick Howell
• - SHORES, CH. & WILLIAMS, C., Aces High, Grub Street, London, 1994.
  - The London Gazette of 18th May 1937, Issue 34399
  - The London Gazette of 15th March 1938, Issue 34493
  - The London Gazette of 14th November 1939, Issue 34733
  - The London Gazette of 27th September 1940, Issue 34954
  - The London Gazette of 25th October 1940, Issue 34978
  - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 31st October 1941, Issue 35334, dated 4th November 1941
  - The London Gazette of 16th December 1941, Issue 35383
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 13th December 1946, Issue 37818, dated 17th December 1946
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 25th April 1947, Issue 37942, dated 29th April 1947
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 24th October 1947, Issue 38108, dated 28th October 1947
  

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