Having qualified as a pilot in 1936, he had already spent 2 ½ years in front line fighter squadrons at the outbreak of war. After five months in 801 Sqn in H.M.S. Furious in 1937 he then flew in 800 Fleet Fighter Sqn in HMS Courageous and later H.M.S. Ark Royal from May 1937 to February 1940. From 3 September 1939 his Squadron was employed carrying out A/S patrols in Force K in the Atlantic and hunting for blockade runners off the coast of Spain. On 23 December 1939 he made a small bit of Corps history on a reconnaissance mission when his observer was Capt. K. L. Ford, one of the only two RM Officers to qualify as an Observer. Capt. Ford was killed an 19th December 1941 in an air crash.
From February 1942 to December 1943 he was embarked in H.M.S. Formidable with 888 Sqn (Grumman Wildcats) which he commanded from November 1941 to December 1943. During this time the Squadron was employed in Operation Torch - the invasion of North Africa and engaged Italian and German bombers off Algiers. Later they were disembarked ashore to provide fighter cover of the Oran area. In July 1943 the Squadron took part in Operation Husky - the invasion of Sicily, giving cover to the Fleet. They then took part in Operation Avalanche - the landings at Salerno in September 1943 covering the assault aircraft carriers. In July 1942, Formidable was also deployed in the Indian Ocean for cover against Japanese shadowers.

From December 1943 for the next 18 months he was at RN Air Station, Yeovilton as Chief Flying Instructor at the Fleet Air Arm Fighter School.

Following this he made history by being appointed to HMS Daedulus from June 1944 to September 1945 as Commanding Officer of RN Air Station, Lee-on-Solent, a unique appointment for a Royal Marines Officer. Then followed an appointment until March 1948 as Commander Training on the staff of Flag Officer Flying Training at HMS Merlin - RNAS Donibristle.

Francis Bird then took the RN Staff Course and returned to Corps Duty and served in various senior Staff Appointments.

As Chief Staff Officer to M.G.R.M. Portsmouth, Major General Moulton, himself a pilot, Francis Bird with Major "Skeets" Harris formed the team with which General Moulton launched the idea of the Commando Carrier and the subsequent evolution of the Brigade Air Squadron.