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
Nicholas Donald (Don) Franko
The Canadian WW2 pilot who crash landed on a remote Scottish island-...
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