Photo: Dorothy Hall
The headstone reads:-
In
loving memory of
Frank Charlton
beloved son of
George & Annie Charlton
Killed on active service Dec. 28th 1942
aged 20 years
Also our beloved daughter Doreen
died Oct 4th 1950 aged 26 years
Annie mother of the above
died Jan. 4th 1970 aged 82 years
George father of the above
died Dec. ?? 1975 aged 85 years
Sgt. Charlton was serving with 10 O.T.U. detachment. He was a crew member of Whitley V Z6660-F which took off from St. Eval on anti-submarine patrol. On return, because of poor visibility, they were advised to go to Exeter, but the aircraft was too low on fuel. Sgt. Charlton gained height and told his crew to bale out. He then tried to force-land the aircraft in a field 4 miles west of Launceston. He lost control and crashed and the aircraft burst into flames. Sgt. Charlton’s was the only death – all the crew who bailed out survived.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses Vol. 7 : Operational Training Units 1940-1947; W.R. Chorley; 200; Midland Publishing; ISBN 1 85780 132 6.
Frank Charlton is remembered at Ferryhill on F38.05, F38.07 and F38.11
