Victory
8
Biography
Frank G. Tinker Jr. was born in De Witt, Arkansas, in 1909. He attended the Annapolis Naval Academy and the Army Flying School, Randolph Field, passed his pilot's license in Pensacola with the Navy. Burning with the desire to fight and to experience adventure, he proposed his candidacy to the Spanish government at the end of 1936. The Spanish ambassador in Mexico invited him and hired him, at the cost of gold, 1500 dollars per month and as much per downed nationalist plane. He receives a Spanish passport. His name is now Francisco Trejo.
He joined the federal ranks at Los Alcazares where he perfected his training on Bréguet XIX. He does not stay there long and goes to join a group of American and English volunteers in Manises. He began operations on BréguetXIX and participated in a few missions on Teruel where fierce fighting took place, but as a bomber pilot. This role is not to please Tinker who asks for his change of assignment. He was then incorporated into a squadron of 1t15 Soviets, commanded by the famous captain Andrès Garcia La Calle, in Guadalajara.
February 18, 1937. Tinker was engaged in his first aerial combat, against Heinkel He 51. It will only have to the intervention of the rapid 1-16 Soviets, not to be shot down. Two of his American comrades will not be so lucky. In March, Tinker is engaged in ground attack missions of Italian troops, leaving Zaragoza and marching on Madrid. During a patrol, he manages to snag a Fiat C,R. 32 Italian. He thus won his first victory.
In May 1937, two good wolfs arrived in Tinker. There he is promoted to commanding the group and Tinker is responsible for replacing him at the head of the squadron. At this time, the reputation begins to grow and the number of experienced pilots to decrease. These made ones have certainly contributed to this promotion. Second good news, he is authorized by the Spanish government and by the Soviets to fly the famous 1-16, he is then one of the most efficient fighter planes in greenhouse. It was on May 30 that he made his first flight with real pleasure.
A few days later, he shot down an Italian Fiat and set the engine on fire. He also kills his pilot who is floating at the end of his parachute. Tinker has always denied having done so intentionally. In June, Frank Tinker was injured, not while driving a 1-16, but on a bicycle and in a state close to complete intoxication. Taken to task by Civil Guards, he receives a bullet in the stomach. Fortunately, the injury was not serious. And on July 12, he is back at the front. A few days later, he faced the first 8f 109s of the Condor Legion.
The end is near. Tinter has been fighting for over seven months. He has eight confirmed wins (including 3 of 1-15 and 5 of 1-16). His bank account is full. In August, he leaves Spain and returns to the United States completely demoralized. He writes his memoirs, but his thoughts are turned towards Spain and by all means he tries to return there. One of his former squadron comrades comes to see him to ask him to join him in forming a squadron of volunteers to fight in China. He is about to leave when he learns that the Republicans have laid down their arms.
On June 13, 1939, the staff of a small hotel in Little Rock will find his body. He could not resist this news and preferred to kill himself.