James Rankin

Air Commodore James Rankin, (7 May 1913 – March 1975) was a Royal Air Force officer, fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Early life Rankin was born in Portobello, Edinburgh on 7 May 1913, although his family later moved to Lancashire. RAF career Rankin joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1935 and, following training at No. 2 Flying Training School, he joined No. 25 Squadron and later flew with the Fleet Air Arm with 825 Naval Air Squadron on . After service with the Fleet Air Arm he became an instructor with No. 5 Operational Training Unit. 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. In February 1941 he then took command of No. 92 Squadron, then equipping with the new Mark V model of Spitfire.