Franklin Leroy Travis was born on March 4, 1922, in Catawba County, North Carolina. He was the son of Gordon Leroy Travis and Floy Alma Setzer Travis. He was the husband of Dovie Ellen Edwards Travis. He served in the 511th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 42-38005 nicknamed ''Stormy Weather'' during World War II.

On May 24, 1944, during a mission targeting Berlin, "Stormy Weather" encountered mechanical issues with its No. 2 engine, causing it to drop out of formation. The crew attempted to return to base but were forced to make an emergency landing near Myrholm, close to Sønderborg on the island of Als in Denmark. The aircraft crash-landed in a field near the farm Skærtoft and a house called Østerholm. All ten crew members survived and were taken as prisoners of war.

SSgt Travis was held at Stalag Luft 4 in Gross-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia, before being moved to Wobbelin near Ludwigslust and later to Usedom near Savenmunde. He died on November 16, 2003, and is now buried in the Mount Olive Lutheran Church Cemetery, Newton, Catawba County, North Carolina, USA.

Source of information: www.airmen.dk, www.americanairmuseum.com