AT 8.49pm on Friday, January 13, there will be a small gathering on a street corner in Darlington as a truly momentous act of heroism is remembered.

At exactly that time in 1945, Pilot Officer William McMullen, of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was killed as he stayed at the controls of his burning Lancaster bomber until the six members of his crew had parachuted to safety and the aircraft was clear of the most densely populated area of Darlington.

Had he baled out, it’s anyone’s guess how many people would have been killed as the stricken bomber plunged into housing estates.

The Northern Echo:

STRICKEN: McMullen gave his life to steer his Lancaster bomber away from houses

Darlington has never forgotten William McMullen. The road near the crash site was named after him and a memorial plaque records his heroism.

But, incredibly, the 30-year-old airman has never been official recognised for his bravery by the Royal Canadian Air Force. No posthumous medal, not even a mention in Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

The reason is that McMullen’s Lancaster was not engaged in active service at the time but on a training flight from what is now Durham Tees Valley Airport when it developed a catastrophic fault.

It should not matter. Mid-battle or preparing for battle, McMullen’s sacrifice saved countless lives and it is time the Royal Canadian Air Force recognised that.

Darlington resident Howard Wilson, who leads the remembrance ceremony for the hero at the corner of McMullen Road and Allington Way each year, told me: “What he did was simply incredible. He saved so many lives and it’s wrong that he was never honoured by his own air force.”

The Mayor of Darlington, Brian Jones, will attend Friday’s ceremony and lay a wreath. He said: “I’ll do whatever I can to support all efforts to get the Royal Canadian Air Force to recognise this great act of heroism.”

Geoff Hill, the passionate chairman of the Middleton St George Memorial Association, which has given McMullen pride of place in its Memorial Room at the St George Hotel, overlooking the airport, said: “It’s a travesty that he was never honoured by his own air force and that needs to be put right.”

So let’s put it right. At 8.49pm on Friday, please join Howard Wilson, the Mayor, myself and others on the corner of McMullen Road and Allington Way in Darlington to show our thanks to William Stuart McMullen. And let’s make it our business to persuade the Royal Canadian Air Force to finally recognise him too.