IN January 1945 Pilot Officer William McMullen died while piloting his stricken Lancaster bomber away from Darlington.

He was stationed at RAF Goosepool during the war, now Durham Tees Valley Airport, and was returning from a training mission when his aircraft engine broke down.

He is buried in Stonefall cemetery, in Harrogate, and I visit him at least twice a year to take flowers – on Remembrance Day and his birthday.

It would be a lovely gesture if Darlington council was to acknowledge his selfless bravery by placing a small tribute to the man on his grave on Remembrance Day or Canada Day (1 July).

My connection? My dad was one of the first at the crash scene to try to help the pilot.

Sadly too late, of course.

L Tudor, Harrogate.