Frank Murphy (RNZAF officer)
Frank Murphy | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Francis Murphy |
| Nickname | Spud |
| Born | 19 January 1917 Bolton, England |
| Died | 11 May 1997 (aged 80) England |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Branch | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Service years | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | No. 486 Squadron |
| Conflicts | Second World War |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Other work | Executive for Hawker Aircraft |
Francis Murphy, OBE, DFC, FRAeS (19 January 1917 – 11 May 1997) was a British-born flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of at least four aircraft.
Born in Bolton in England, Murphy was a child when his family emigrated to New Zealand, where they settled in Wellington. He was working as a clerk when he joined the RNZAF in March 1941. Sent to the United Kingdom for the final phase of his training, he was then posted to No. 486 Squadron in March 1942. Flying a Hawker Typhoon fighter, he claimed his first aerial victories at the end of the year. The final months of his war service were spent as a test pilot for Hawker Aircraft. After returning to civilian life following the end of the war in Europe, he continued to work for Hawker Aircraft, first as a test pilot and then in aircraft sales, until his retirement from the company in 1976. He died in England in 1997 at the age of 80.