Edward Darling (RAF officer)

On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Darling, who was nicknamed 'Mitzi', was called up for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and commenced further training. He was posted to No. 41 Squadron as a sergeant pilot in mid-December but at the end of the month went to Aston Down for familiarisation on Hawker Hurricane fighters. He was back at No. 41 Squadron by the end of January 1940.^[2][3] Despite his training on Hurricanes, the squadron was equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters and, operating from Catterick, carried out patrols along the East Coast and over shipping convoys until late May. At that time it relocated to Hornchurch for two weeks while it carried out patrols over the beaches at Dunkirk during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. It returned to Catterick in mid-June.^[4]

As the Luftwaffe's aerial campaign against the southeast of England began to escalate in late July, No. 41 Squadron shifted back to Hornchurch for two weeks, then went back to Catterick.^[4] On 11 August, Darling shared in the destruction of a Junkers Ju 88 medium bomber over Helmsley. On 6 September, with the squadron once again operating from Hornchurch, he probably destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter over the Thames Estuary. Three days later he shot down a pair of Bf 109s near London. On 15 September, now known as Battle of Britain Day, he damaged a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber off Dover and later in the day, destroyed a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber near Hornchurch. Darling shot down a Bf 109 near Dover on 18 September, and also damaged a Ju 88 near Chatham. On 23 September he damaged a Bf 109 over Dover.^[2][3]

The next day, his Spitfire was damaged in an encounter with the Luftwaffe, forcing Darling to ditch in the sea off the coast of Kent. He was shot down again on 27 September, this time over West Malling. He bailed out although was wounded as a result of the engagement. Hospitalised at Preston Hall Hospital, he soon returned to the squadron.^[2][3] The pace of operations slowed across October and into November and the squadron began to receive the new Spitfire Mk II.^[4] Flying one of these, he shot down a Bf 109 near Tonbridge on 27 November.^[3]

In January 1941, No. 41 Squadron switched to offensive operations to German-occupied France, carrying out bomber escort duties. However this was only for a few weeks before it returned to Catterick in February. On reduced operations, it reverted to the older Spitfire Mk Is.^[4] By this time Darling was a pilot officer, having been commissioned the previous month.^[5] While at Catterick Darling resumed his friendship with Alan Deere, the well-known New Zealand flying ace of No. 54 Squadron, who he had known since they were both based at Hornchurch the previous year. The two developed a routine of referring to each other by their surnames when ordering drinks at the local pub, which caused amusement among their companions.^[6]

When Deere was posted to No. 602 Squadron as a flight commander, he requested Darling join him and he duly arrived in June.^[3] The squadron, another Spitfire-equipped unit, was part of the Kenley Wing and regularly flew Circus operations.^[7] Darling was promoted to acting flight lieutenant in August and posted away to No. 616 Squadron to lead a flight there. The next month Deere, who had just become commanding officer of No. 602 Squadron arranged for Darling's return. He was subsequently recognised for his successes over the preceding months with an award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.^[2][3] The citation was published in The London Gazette and read:

This officer has been engaged in active operations over a long period and has proved himself to be a skilful and courageous fighter pilot. He fought in the Dunkirk operations and later in the Battle of Britain. He has since completed 32 operational sweeps and throughout he has displayed excellent leadership, keenness and efficiency. He has destroyed at least 3 enemy aircraft and damaged a further 2.

Later in October, Darling's substantive rank was made up to flying officer.^[9] At the start of 1942, he was rested from operations and posted as instructor to No. 53 Operational Training Unit at Llandow in Wales. He was still there in May, at which time he was posted to No. 403 Squadron as one of its flight commanders.^[2][10] Deere was the squadron's commander and had specifically asked for Darling.^[11] The squadron was stationed at Rochford and involved in the Circus offensive.^[12]

Darling failed to return from a sortie to France on 2 June 1942; his Spitfire was seen going down into the English Channel off Calais after being shot down by Focke Wulf 190 fighters. Despite aerial searches mounted by Deere, he was not found and is believed to have died. He is credited with having shot down six aircraft, one of which shared with another pilot, as well as damaging three others. He is also credited with the probable destruction of one aircraft.^[3][13] With no known grave, Darling is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Englefield Green.^[14]

• Rawlings, John (1976). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: MacDonald & James. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (1994). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-8-9869-7000.
• Smith, Richard C. (2003). Al Deere: Wartime Fighter Pilot, Peacetime Commander. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-904010-48-7.
• Wynn, Kenneth G. (2015). Men of the Battle of Britain: A Biographical Directory of the Few. Barnsley: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-39901-465-6.