Laurence Stark
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader Laurence Pinkie Stark, DFC*
AFC
(16 November 1920 - 1 August 2004) was a Royal Air Force pilot and Second World War flying ace.
until posted to 182 Squadron
flying the Hawker Typhoon
. On 10 Jan 1943 Stark was posted to 609 Squadron
, the squadron had been tasked to counter the hit and run attacks over South-East England by Luftwaffe
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
s. On 12 March 1943 Stark had his first victory when he downed a Fw 190 over Dunkirk. He shot down two Junkers Ju 88
bombers over France, one in October and the other on 2 November 1943. On 4 January 1944 he shared in the destruction of a Dornier Do 217
, he also shot down a Caudron Goeland transport and another Fw 190, with 5½ victories and another aircraft destroyed on the ground he qualified as an Ace.
In February 1944 he was posted to 263 Squadron
to carry out ground-attack operations, still with the Typhoon. In March 1944 he was awarded a DFC
for his work. He flew sorties in support of the D-Day landing attacking ground targets in Northern France but in July 1944 he was shot down in Brittany. With the help of the French resistance he evaded capture and returned to England in a motor boat. In October 1944 he was awarded a bar to his DFC
. Stark later returned to 609 Squadron as commanding officer to continue the ground-attack work.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(16 November 1920 - 1 August 2004) was a Royal Air Force pilot and Second World War flying ace.
Royal Air Force
Stark joined the Royal Air Force in 1940 and was sent for flying training in Canada. Returning to England in mid-1941 he flew the Boulton Paul DefiantBoulton Paul Defiant
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
until posted to 182 Squadron
No. 182 Squadron RAF
No. 182 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a fighter-bomber unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed on 25 August 1942 at RAF Martlesham Heath and was supplied with Hurricanes and Typhoons. It then operated the Typhoons from several locations in the...
flying the Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
. On 10 Jan 1943 Stark was posted to 609 Squadron
No. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in World War II active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role...
, the squadron had been tasked to counter the hit and run attacks over South-East England by Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
s. On 12 March 1943 Stark had his first victory when he downed a Fw 190 over Dunkirk. He shot down two Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
bombers over France, one in October and the other on 2 November 1943. On 4 January 1944 he shared in the destruction of a Dornier Do 217
Dornier Do 217
The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift . Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber, its design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940...
, he also shot down a Caudron Goeland transport and another Fw 190, with 5½ victories and another aircraft destroyed on the ground he qualified as an Ace.
In February 1944 he was posted to 263 Squadron
No. 263 Squadron RAF
No 263 Squadron was an Royal Air Force fighter squadron formed in Italy towards the end of World War I. After being disbanded in 1919 it reformed in 1939 flying mainly strike and heavy fighter aircraft until becoming No 1 Squadron in 1958.-First World War:...
to carry out ground-attack operations, still with the Typhoon. In March 1944 he was awarded a DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
for his work. He flew sorties in support of the D-Day landing attacking ground targets in Northern France but in July 1944 he was shot down in Brittany. With the help of the French resistance he evaded capture and returned to England in a motor boat. In October 1944 he was awarded a bar to his DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. Stark later returned to 609 Squadron as commanding officer to continue the ground-attack work.
Post war
Stark continued flying in the RAF as a test pilot and in particular with the Blind Landing Experimental Unit performing automatic landing trials. He retired from the RAF in 1963 and later became manager of Rochester Airport.Honours and awards
- 7 March 1944 - Flying Officer Lawrence William Fraser Stark (148445), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 609 Squadron is awarded the Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
:
- 3 October 1944 - Acting Flight Lieutenant Laurence William Fraser Stark DFC (148445), RAFVR, 263 Squadron is awarded a bar to his Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
:
- 1 January 1950 - Flight Lieutenant Laurence William Fraser Stark DFC (148445), RAF is awarded the Air Force CrossAir Force Cross (United Kingdom)The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
. - 10 November 1950 - Permission is given to Acting Squadron Leader Lawrence William Fraser Stark, DFC, AFC (148445), Royal Air Force to wear the Croix de Guerre, 1940 with palm conferred by the Prince Regent of Belgium.