Darlington, Frank Lawrence
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Frank Lawrence |
Surname | Darlington |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-02-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frank Darlington and Mary Coubrough Darlington (née Couborough), of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | W4118 |
Markings | ZN-Y Admiral Prune |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Lyon (La Doua) French National Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row B. Grave 2. |
Epitaph | ALWAYS THOUGHTFUL, GOOD AND KIND, A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY LEFT BEHIND |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 26 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/108258 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 106 |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Martin, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet & Roll of Honour in Wooden Case |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Airmen of 106 Sqn who gave their lives in the 1939-45 War |
Location | Former Airfield Site, Martin Moor, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick moument with inscribed Slate Tablets & Plaques |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to the airmen and airwomen who served on 106 Sqn in WW2. 995 gave their lives |
Miscellaneous Information
Aircraft was named "Admiral Prune" despite being -Z. It is thought that it was so named by Guy Gibson, who had flown the aircraft on a number of occasions. |
Born 3 September 1919 Montreal. His mother was born in Glasgow, Scotland. The family lived on Jeanne Mance Street, Montreal. Frank was educated at Montreal High School. He had been a draughtsman at the Montreal Locomotive Works from January 1936 until enlisting. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/833/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/833/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 04-02-1943 |
End Date | 05-02-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Syerston |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Torino |
Reason for Loss | Aircraft took off from Syerston at 1810 hrs detailed to attack targets in Turin. Outbound a message received reporting that both port engines had failed and they were losing height. The Lancaster crash-landed on a hill close to La Perrussel in Massif Central near Valsonne (Rhone), 30 km from Lyon. Those who died were buried in La Guillotier, Lyon. In October 1956 their remains were taken to Lyon (la Doua) French National Cemetery. |