F/Lt F. B. Bassett volunteered for the RAF in early 1939, and went into action almost immediately war broke out flying Blenheims with 266 squadron. In October, he was seriously injured in a flying accident.
In December 1939, Francis was transfered as Pilot Officer to 222 squadron, also flying Blenheins.
On 17th February 1940, he was quite badly injured in a flying accident (A Maggie piloted by P/O A F Delamore with P/O F B Bassett as passenger hit a tree just south of Duxford aerodrome. P/O Delamore was seriously injured and died the next day. P/O Bassett was badly injured), and spent the next six months either in hospital, or in and out of hospital. He returned to 222 squadron, which had been re-equipped with Spitfires, in July 1940, and appears to have in action through part of the Battle of Britain.
In November 1940 he was transferred to a flight training school in Moose Jaw, Canada, and spent 6 weeks in hospital after another air accident in February 1941.
In September 1941 Francis returned to England, and in December joined 152 squadron, again flying spitfires.
In November 1942, 152 squadron was transferred to N. Africa. On 14th November 1942, during the flight from Gibraltar to Algiers, his Spitfire caught fire, and he was seen to bale out, and and was seen to climb into a yellow inflatable rubber dinghy. But when Spitfires returned to look for him, they found no trace.