Overview

• Pilot Officer William McMullen steered his burning Lancaster bomber away from Darlington in 1945, saving his crew and thousands of civilians at the cost of his own life.
• Darlington MP Lola McEvoy has formally petitioned Ottawa to award McMullen a posthumous bravery medal and erect a statue in his honor.
• Veterans Affairs Canada maintains that a 1950 royal decree enforcing a five-year nomination limit precludes new WWII-era awards, including for McMullen.
• McMullen's family, including his ailing 86-year-old daughter Donna Barber, emphasizes the urgency of recognition as her health declines.
• Local tributes to McMullen include annual memorial services, a dedicated road, a memorial stone, and a hospital plaque honoring his sacrifice.