Francis Warrington Gillet was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 28th November 1895. After attending the University of Virginia Gillet joined the United States Air Service on 1st April 1917. On 25th July, 1917, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. After being trained in Canada and England, he was posted to the Western Front in March 1918.

As a member of the 79 Squadron Gillet scored 20 victories. Captain Edward Rickenbacker was the only USA pilot with a better record than Gillet. He also won the Distinguished Flying Cross after successfully destroying three German aircraft and two kite balloons in one flying expedition. Other awards include the Belgian Croix de Guerre and the British War Medal.

Francis Warrington Gillet died on 21st December, 1969.