Flying Officer Ernest Franklin "Franklyn" Paige

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98155725
• Military: WW2
• Misfortune: Killed in WW2
• Name: Franklyn Paige
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-387320

Notes:

Bridgeport Flier Gets Craft Home

Flight-Lieut. Paige Keeps Wound Secret

LONDON, May 5.-(CP Cable)- Flight-Lieut. E. F. Paige of Bridgeport. Ont., pilot of an R.C.A.F. Coastal Command Hudson, disregarded a severe leg wound and stayed at the controls of his aircraft during an early morning attack on German shipping today.

Attracted by the glare of a burning ship in a convoy, Paige was going to attack when the Hudson was hit by a cannon shell. Paige was hit in the leg and, although he momentarily lost control, recovered and piloted the damaged aircraft to base without first aid.

It was only when he was nearly home that he told his crew members, S. R. Balden, West Vancouver, C. H. McCarthy, Toronto, and B. E. Rivers, Collingwood, Ont., that he was wounded.

(Flight-Lieut. Paige is a son of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Paige, Bridgeport Road.)

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Frank Paige Holds D.F.C.

His Brother, Bertram, Beat Him to Honor By Only One Week

May 28, 1942 Flight Lieut. Franklin Paige, 26, of Bridgeport, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross one week after his brother, Pilot Officer Bertram Paige, received the Distinguished Flying Medal from the King at Buckingham Palace, it was learned here today.

The second decoration to be won by a Waterloo County man since the I start of the present war, Paige is believed to have received the award for his gallantry on May 5 when he disregarded a severe leg wound and stayed at the controls of his plane during an attack on German shipping.

STILL IN HOSPITAL

E. B. Paige of Bridgeport, father of the airmen, received a cable last evening from Bert advising him of the award. Franklin is still in hospital.

"What does it feel like to be father of two airmen with decorations," Mr. Paige was asked.

"It makes me feel that perhaps I am not worthy to be their dad," he answered.

A third son, Robert, is overseas with the Highland Light Infantry, the Waterloo County battalion.

Bert Paige was decorated for assisting the pilot of a damaged aircraft return to England after attacking an enemy ship on Feb. 18. In addition to the decoration, he was promoted from sergeant-observer to pilot officer. He received the medal from King George in the Great Hall of Buckingham Palace last week.

FLIES PLANE HOME

Franklin Paige, attached to the coastal command, was piloting a Hudson bomber on May 5 when he was attracted by the glare of a burning ship. Closing in to attack, the machine was hit by a cannon shell.

Struck in the leg by flying fragments, he momentarily lost control but recovered and piloted the damaged machine back to its base without first aid.

It was only when he was nearly home that he told his crew members that he was wounded."

The D.F.C. is an award for commissioned officers, The D.F.M. is for non-commissioned officers.

Prior to the war Franklin was studying Diesel engines.

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Franklyn Paige Praised for Feat

Still in Hospital With War Wounds

LONDON, June 5.-(CP)-Awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Polit Officer Ernest Franklyn Paige of Bridgeport, Ont., and Pilot Officer Reade Franklyn Tilley of Clearwater, Fla., were announced today.

Paige, a pilot of the Coastal Command's R.C.A.F. Demon Squadron, is recuperating in hospital after an attack on a convoy last month. The citation said that "regardless of a fierce defensive barrage he pressed home the attack and, although seriously wounded, flew his aircraft back to base."

Paige, 26, was commissioned at Saskatoon. He joined the R.C.A.F. at Hamilton two years ago.
The citation of Tilley, a pilot of the R.A.F., said:

"On three occasions, by making feint attacks after he had expended all ammunition, he has driven off enemy fighters which attempted to machine-gun our aircraft as they landed."

June 5, 1942

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PAIGE, ERNEST FRANKLIN F/O(P) J6007 D.F.C. From Bridgeport, Ontario. Killed in Action May.25/43 age 27. #422 Flying Yachtsmen Squadron (This Arm Shall Do It). Sunderland aircraft # DD 846 went down and presumed sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland near Clage Island. F/O. J.W. Clarke, WO.S R.B. Bryers, W.R. Thompson, FS. W.G. Hopps, Sgt.s R. Sherwood (RAF), J. Hird (RAF) and four others of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed. F/O. Paige had been wounded in action on May 5. 1942 when assigned to #407 Squadron flying Hudson aircraft # AM 823. Flying Officer Pilot Paige is buried in the Church of Ireland Churchyard, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, Ireland.

They Shall Grow not Old, pg 579

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Franklin Paige Has New Ship - May 4, 1943

Hero From Bridgeport Piloting Flying Boat. With His Old Skill

LONDON, May 4-A German shell splinter had him bedded down. for many months, but it takes more than that to prevent Flying Officer Franklin Paige, D.F.C., from carrying on aerial warfare against the Hun.

Paige is operational again, after nearly a year's layoff, a considerable portion of that time being spent in hospital. Recent months were devoted to conversion. It's no more Hudsons for the Bridgeport youngster this time though, for the daring young member of the famous R.C.A.F. Demon Squadron has become a flying boat captain. He recently finished his conversion with an R.C.A.F. Sunderland squadron, commanded by Wing Cmdr. L. W. Skey, D.F.C., of Toronto.

"HE'S A NATURAL"

"He's a natural with a flying boat, just as he was with a Hudson," commented one of his crewmates, "and he's got 26 tons of it, plus gas, and extras, which is quite a contrast to operating Hudsons."

Paige carries into U-boat and convoy warfare a great accumulation of experience, gained when the heroic Demon Squadron waged such a devastating campaign against" German shipping in the North Sea last year.

In May, 1942, Paige piloted his Hudson in a convoy attack off the enemy coast. A fierce defensive barrage was set up against the oncoming Hudsons, in the full light of morning, and accurate to a very disturbing degree.

Paige nevertheless pressed home his attack. A shell burst nearby, and a splinter crashed through Paige's instrument panel, and seriously wounded him.

ONLY MAST-HIGH

Despite his wound, Paige flew his aircraft back to base, and was bedded down for many months afterwards. Just a few nights earlier, he had made a mast-high attack on a large enemy vessel, typical of many sorties which the "Demons" so frequently carried out in the face of intense enemy "ack-ack" opposition.

Getting "gongs" has become quite a habit in the Paige family. Frankie's brother, Bert, showed him the way, getting the Distinguished Flying Medal while a sergeant observer in January, 1942.

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Parents Told Of Fatality

One of 4 Brothers Serving in Air Force; Decorated With D.F.C.

A year ago today Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Paige of Bridgeport were thrilled with the news that their second son, Franklin, had been decorated for gallantry in the air.

Today they received another message, this time a grim message, that PO. Franklin, who had received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his daring last year, has been killed in action.

BROTHER DECORATED


Franklin was one of four Paige boys serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force and he was the second member of the family to win a decoration. A few weeks prior to the time he received his award, his brother, PO. Bertram, then a non- commissioned officer, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

The two other brothers are Robert and Jim. Robert went overseas originally with a Western Ontario. infantry unit but later transferred to the air force. Jim, who was a passenger in the K-W Flying Club plane which crashed into the Shand Dam a year ago, recently completed his training.
Details of the accident in which Franklin was killed are not known. The brief message from the Air Ministry merely confirms his death.

SENT TO HOSPITAL

Twenty-seven years old, the Bridgeport flier received his decoration for gallantry on May 5 last. year when he disregarded a serious leg injury and stayed at the controls of his plane during an attack on German shipping.

Closing in to attack an enemy ship, Paige was injured and the machine was badly damaged by German fire. Struck in the leg by flying fragments, Franklin temporarily lost control of the plane. He recovered quickly and piloted the machine back to the base without first aid.
For many months later he was confined to hospital and only re- cently returned to active duty.

Bertram, who was also attached to the Coastal Command, returned to Canada last summer. He is now attached to an eastern operational training unit.

PO. Franklin is the second Twin City district pilot with a decoration who has been killed. The other was PO. Bert Shoemaker who held the Distinguished Flying Cross,

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147693112
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-380154

Ernest — Elva Estella Turner. Elva was born 23 May 1891, East Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; died 6 Feb 1975, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147693207
• Name: Elva Estella Paige
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-385335