Biography of Maj. Franklin L. Doughty

Major Franklin L. Doughty, AC was assigned and designated Commanding Officer of Det "G" per Par 6, SO 336, V Fighter Command date 1 Dec 1944. Major Doughty is one of the most experienced officers in the Southwest Pacific in the establishing and operation of air warning facilities. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces on 15 February 1941 and trained at Scott Field, Illinois as a radio operator and mechanic. Later he attended the Communications Cadet Course at Scott Field graduation on 5 December 1941. From Scott Field Major Doughty proceeded to Clinton, Ontario, Canada to attend the Royal Air Force No. 31 Radio School in Airborne and Ground Radar. He received his commission as a 2nd Lt. AC-Res. on 4 Feb 1942. Assigned to the 8th Fighter Control Squadron, a unit of the 8th Fighter Group, he embarked from San Francisco Port of Embarkation on 12 February 1942 for Australia.

The Group arrived at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on 6 March 1942. From there the Group went to Milne Bay where the 8th Fighter Control Squadron set up the first U.S.A.A.F. Fighter Sector in New Guinea. Major Doughty was the Commanding Officer of the 8th Fighter Control Squadron from 14 November 1942 to 25 April 1944 during which time the Squadron operated at Milne Bay, N.G., Cairns, Queensland, Port Moresby, N.G., Goodenough Island, N.G., and Gusap, N.G. Maj. Doughty was transferred to Hq V Fighter Command on 25 April 1944 and became Plans Officer for the Fighter Control Staff Section. On 28 June 1944 he was sent back to the United States for further training in Radar and Communications. Maj Doughty returned to SWPA theatre on 16 Nov 1944 and was designated Commanding Officer of Hq Det "G" on 1 Dec 1944.