James Rankin (pilot)

James Rankin (pilot)

Infobox Military Person
name= James E Rankin
lived= 1913 - date of death unknown
placeofbirth= Edinburgh, Scotland
placeofdeath=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
serviceyears=
rank= Air Commodore
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands=
unit= No. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 72 Squadron RAF
15 Fighter Wing
125 Fighter Wing
battles= World War II:
*Battle of Britain
*Channel Front
*Normandy Campaign
awards=Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross & Bar
laterwork=

James E. Rankin was a British RAF flying ace of the Second World War.

Rankin was born in Portabello Edinburgh, in 1913, and joined the RAF in 1935. After service with the Fleet Air Arm he became an instructor with No 5 OTU.

Early in 1941 he was promoted to Squadron Leader and attached to No. 64 Squadron to gain operational experience. He claimed a third of a Junkers Ju 88 shot down and 2 damaged in his short spell with the Squadron. He then took command of No. 92 Squadron, then equipping with the new Mark V model of Spitfire. During the fighter sweeps of the summer, his score mounted rapidly. In June 1941 he was awarded the DFC for 9 victories. On 14 June he shot down and killed 18-kill ace "Obfw" Robert Menge of III./ JG 26. In September 1941 he became Wing leader at Biggin Hill and received the DSO in October.

In December 1941 Rankin was posted to HQ Fighter Command, and in April 1942 returned to lead the Biggin Hill Wing for a second time. In 1943 he commanded No. 15 Fighter Wing, and then 125 Wing during the Normandy landings of June 1944.

Rankin scored 17 victories against enemy aircraft, as well as five shared kills, three probable and two shared probable kills, 16 damaged and three shared damaged and the destruction of a V-1 flying bomb. With the exception of one shared destroyed, one damaged and two shared damaged, the rest of his total score was achieved while flying the Spitfire Mark V. [Price 1997, p. 80.]

Bibliography

* Price, Dr. Alfred. "Spitfire Mark V Aces 1941–1945". London: Osprey, 1997. ISBN 978-1-85532-635-4.
* Thomas, Andrew. (2008). "Griffon Spitfire Aces". Osprey Publishing, London, England. ISBN 978-1-84603-298-1

Citations

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