- Contributed by听
- CSV Solent
- People in story:听
- Amy Cavanagh
- Location of story:听
- Orkney
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A7826042
- Contributed on:听
- 16 December 2005
This story has been added to the People鈥檚 War website by Micheline Stevens on behalf of Amy Cavanagh. Amy has given her permission and understands the sites terms and conditions.
'I am Canadian and my papa (grandfather) was in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Pilot of Ferdinand II - a Halifax bomber plane. He crashed in Auskerry, Orkney Isles during a nighttime training flight. Nearly out of fuel & I think a wee bit lost, he crashed, nearly destroying standing stones on the little dark island.
The lighthouse keeper (and family I believe) took him in the next day and because of rough weather, was not rescued off until 2 weeks later - having spent Christmas with these good people.
Now, the current inhabitants of the island have re-found my papa and have a friendship. Papa and Nana went to visit them a couple of years ago and he made the news and is on an article on the web. His name is Donald Franko. Papa is just over 80 now.
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