Flagler County Veteran of the Week: Howard Franklin

Thank you for your example of service and bravery.

By David Lydon
| 5:00 a.m. September 18, 2022

Palm Coast Observer
News

If you would like to submit a Veteran of the Week for publication, send the details below, and photos, to [email protected].

Howard M. Franklin

Branch of Military: U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Dates of Service: 1952-1972
Rank/Occupation: Master Sergeant/Defensive Fire Systems Control
Hometown: Gladstone, Michigan

Howard Franklin was a tail gunner on the B-52 Bomber in the Strategic Air Command. As a gunner, he was armed with a battery of four .50 caliber M3 machine guns in a hydraulically controlled and gyroscopically stabilized gun turret. Each gun had 600 rounds of ammunition. Franklin rose through the ranks to become superintendent of a defensive fire systems control unit in charge of maintaining the armament. He retired while assigned to the 644th Bomb Squadron, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. After honorable military service, he worked for the Defense Commissary Agency for several years, managing commissaries at three air bases in the United Kingdom, and at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. He and his wife Gloria moved to Palm Coast in 2005 and have been married 66 years. Franklin turned 90 this past July.

Need help with veteran services?

For information about benefits available to veterans, and other support organizations, visit flaglercounty.gov/departments/veterans-services or call 386-313-4014.