Squadron: 14 (OT) AFTS (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-12-15
Completion Date: 1943-12-16
Mission: Flying Incident - Court Martial
Operation: unspecified
Target City:
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Fraserburgh
Take Off Time:
Squadron Code:
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Scotland
Crash Specifics: Auskerry Island
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fuel
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim:
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable

14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Flight Sergeant Nicholas Donald Franko (RCAF) on a solo Night Navigation Exercise over the North Sea became lost in deteriorating weather conditions. Low on fuel, Franko made a wheels-up forced landing on the Auskerry Island in the Orkney Islands Group. He survived the crash and spent the night inside his aircraft wrapped in his parachute. The following morning, the Auskerry Lighthouse Keeper, Mr George Mainland found the young pilot alive and uninjured and took him into his home. Weather conditions prevented Flight Sergeant Franko's rescue from Auskerry Island for ten more days and he spent Christmas 1943 with the Lighthouse Keeper and his family

Promoted to Pilot Officer, Frank was posted to 432 Leaside Squadron and served the remainder of the war a pilot in command of Halifax II NP 697 QO-F completing 34 Operational missions before returning to Canada in June of 1945

Museum Nicholas Donald (Don) Franko

YouTube The Canadian WW2 pilot who crash landed on a remote Scottish island-...

unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database

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