Born in Franklin, KY and his family moved to Bowling Green when he was 10 years old. He graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1962 and Western Kentucky University in 1966. He joined the USAF immediately thereafter, completing undergraduate pilot training in 1968. During his Air Force career, he accumulated over 3,500 flying hours with a total of over 780 combat hours while flying the OV-lO and F-111 in Southeast Asia and RAF Lakenheath, England. Colonel Franklin held numerous command positions including F-111 squadron commander, F-111 wing commander, and vice commander of Air University. He earned several military awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, The Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters.

At 2:00 AM on April 15, 1986, Lieutenant Colonel Franklin, call sign Remit 31, led 18 General Dynamics F-111Fs of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, stationed at Royal Air Force Station, Lakenheath, England, on a mission bombing three targets in and around Tripoli, the capital of Libya. The objective of the mission was to demonstrate national resolve to combat state-sponsored terrorism and serve as a warning against continued Libyan-sponsored terrorist attacks around the world. The grueling mission, planned and led by Colonel Franklin, was very successful and lasted more than 14 hours. The following is a quote from the citation accompanying the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross: Lieutenant Colonel Arnold L. Franklin Jr. distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight on 15 April 1986.

Colonel Franklin's exemplary knowledge and outstanding airmanship, displayed under extremely hazardous conditions, resulted in the successful accomplishment of an important mission. The professional competence, aerial skill and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Franklin reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.