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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Torrance Lambing

Jim Franklin became involved in aviation as a teenage boy in Miami as an employee of Glenn Curtiss. He often told stories about Mr. Curtiss, one which described Mr. Curtiss' hearing impairment due to being around airplanes all his life. Since he couldn't hear well he would drive around in second gear most of the time, and everyone could hear him coming due to the loud whine of the car's transmission.
Jim joined Eastern Airlines in the aircraft maintenance department and furthered his career by joining the U.S. Navy in 1932 and serving thirty years, mostly as Squadron Leading Chief in aircraft maintenance. He then served twenty-two years civil service as fuel inspector at NAS Cecil Field, FL providing fuel for U.S. Navy jet aircraft.
While serving in the Navy, Jim served aboard many carriers, one being the USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68) and while aboard participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 25, 1944. He was Leading Chief of Composite Squadron Three VC-3. The carrier was attached to Task Group 77.4.3.
Jim was a member of the USS Kalinin Bay/ VC-3 Association and the Florida Aviation Historical Society. He passed away in May, 2005.