Laurence Stark

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.

Early life
Laurence William Fraser Stark was born on 16 November 1920 in Bolton, Lancashire.

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 Defiant 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 190s. 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.

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 Cross:


 * 3 October 1944 - Acting Flight Lieutenant Laurence William Fraser Stark DFC (148445), RAFVR, 263 Squadron is awarded a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross:


 * 1 January 1950 - Flight Lieutenant Laurence William Fraser Stark DFC (148445), RAF is awarded the Air Force Cross.
 * 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.