The ceremony near the crash site in Darlington culminated in a minute’s silence at 8.49pm – the exact moment when, on January 13, 1945, Pilot Officer William McMullen’s stricken bomber cleared the last rooftops of the Yarm Road area and exploded in a field.
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Among the crowd were two men who had witnessed the incident. Ian Barnes, 90, and Raymond Bland, 86, both recalled the huge orange fireball that lit up the Darlington skyline and illuminated the parachute of at least one of McMullen’s crewmates drifting down to safety.
Rather than jump and save his own life, McMullen, 33, had chosen to stay with the burning Lancaster to steer it away from the town centre.
Earlier on Monday, the 450 children at the nearby Heathfield Primary School learned of McMullen’s story in their assembly, and pupil representatives laid wreaths at the memorial in McMullen Road.
The newly restored McMullen memorial. Picture: Andy FutersThe memorial has been specially cleaned, re-lettered and illuminated for the anniversary by Darlington Cares, led by Seth Pearson.
The mayor, Cllr Bob Donoghue, opens the 2025 McMullen memorial. Picture: Andy FutersIn 1945, the mayor of Darlington, Cllr Jimmy Blumer, christened him “the gallant airman” and he was credited with saving countless civilians. Cllr Blumer told McMullen’s widow that her husband would be “remembered and honoured by the people of Darlington for years to come”.
In 2025, the current mayor, Cllr Bob Donoghue, opened the ceremony at 8.35pm – the moment when McMullen over Acklam realised that the plane, which was returning to RAF Middleton St George after a training exercise, was on fire.
Chris Lloyd tells the McMullen story. Picture: David ThompsonChris Lloyd, of The Northern Echo, told McMullen’s story before John Smith, of the Royal British Legion, led the minute’s silence, with Amy Gaidel, of the Cockerton Prize Silver Band, playing the light post.
John Smith, of the Royal British Legion, lays a wreath. Picture: Andy FutersSome people looked skyward to contemplate the immense and brave decision that the pilot, from the other side of the world, had made at that precise moment 80 years ago. His decision made his wife a widow and left his five-year-old daughter fatherless, but, because he had steered the plane away from the houses, no one in Darlington was hurt.
The McMullen memorial ceremony beneath the wolf moon, by David ThompsonA little light cloud – just as there had been on the fateful flight – sped in front of the first full moon of the year, the wolf moon, to add extra atmosphere to the occasion.
Pilot Officer William McMullenThe minute’s silence. Picture: Andy FutersMcMullen remembered, by Andy Futers