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Name: FRANCOMBE, Aubrey Noel DSO, MBE 'Frankers' (Senior Superintendent)
Photo Source: David Reeve
Birth Date: 29 Dec 1903 Headington, Oxford
Death Date: 16 Dec 1987 Limuru
First Date: 1929
Last Date: 1987
Profession: Police Air Wing
Married: In Kensington 11 May 1937 Irene Margaret 'Peggy' Thornley b. 1913, d. 1980 Limuru
Children: Ian Westray (d. 25.12.2014 Kent); another son
Book Reference: EA & Rhodesia, Aero, Barnes, Web, Mills
General Information:
East Africa & Rhodesia - 25/8/55 - The [Police] Air Wing is now commanded by Senior Superintendent R. Francombe, one of the pioneers of civil flying in Kenya, who served with the RAF from 1922 to 1929, when he went to East Africa to engage in commercial aviation. He rejoined the RAF at the outbreak of the 1939-45 war in which he took part in "cloak and dagger" operations in the Balkans, Italy, Greece, and Burma.
Aero - Wing Commander A.N. Francombe was an RAF Flying Officer from 1924-1929. Pilot Surveyor in the Colonial Service Survey Department in Tanzania from 1929-1933, and a Captain with Wilson Airways up to the Second World War. He was Operational Manager of East African Airways after the War leaving them in 1953. He started up the Police Air Wing, with "Punch" Bearcroft then as his No. 2. After leaving the Police Air Wing in 1963, he became Secretary General of the Automobile Association of East Africa until 1973, when he retired. He was President of the Aero Club in 1951 and 1952.
Aero - President of the Aero Club of East Africa in 1951/52
Limuru cemetery - A.N. Francombe, 'Frankers', 1903-1987 AND Peggy Francombe, 1913 - 1980
Web - President of Nairobi Rotary Club - 1959-60 - A.N. Francombe