The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. F S Day

Frank Samuel Day was born Frank Samuel Deitchman in Hackney on the 21st July 1914. His father Nathaniel was an eminent theatrical agent, who died aged 98, having been awarded a MBE. His mother Rika, nee Kanter, came from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, they were engaged there on 2nd August 1910 according to the Amsterdam edition of the Algemeen Handelsblad published the following day.

They married in February 1912. A girl, Gladys, born in 1912, unfortunately didn't survive. The family changed its name in the 1920s although Nathaniel had been using the name 'Nat Day' professionally for some years by then. Nat Day was successful enough for the family to move from the East End of London to the West End at some time before the Second World War.

Before enlisting in the RAFVR on 30th August 1939 Frank Day worked as a journalist. He started his career in southwest London in November 1932 before moving to central London in the April 1934. He joined the staff of the Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald in 1935 to help with coverage of the general election and his performance resulted in his being retained and sent to their Trowbridge office. His obituary, from the 1st August 1942 edition, describes him as 'vital and versatile'. He had a keen interest in amateur dramatics and was an accomplished horseman and fencer.

Day was instrumental in founding the West Wiltshire and North Somerset branch of the National Union of Journalists, becoming its first secretary in December 1936. He moved to Newcastle in June 1938 to work for the Evening Chronicle as their theatre critic and feature writer.

Called up on 9th October 1939, he completed his training at 4 B&GS West Freugh in Scotland and was posted as an Observer to 248 Squadron at North Coates on 23rd March 1940, being promoted to Acting Sergeant the next day. 248 squadron was equipped with the Blenheim IVf and operated from Sumburgh in the Shetlands throughout the Battle. At that time the aerodrome was still under construction and many of the the squadron's personnel were still sleeping under canvas as the winter set in.

In June 1941 the squadron converted to Bristol Beaufighters and after a period of retraining Day was posted to 86 Squadron, operating Beauforts.

He flew operationally with the squadron until he was taken ill or injured in early 1942 while stationed at St. Eval. He was discharged from a Royal Navy hospital in Plymouth on 26th February 1942.

Commissioned as a Pilot Officer (Observer) on 4th May 1942, Day was killed on 24th July, three days after his twenty-eighth birthday.

At 8.55am that day a Bristol Beaufort SB-X AW288 crashed into Roscroggan Chapel near Camborne. It had taken off from RAF Portreath and was on a ferry flight to Malta. The pilot of the plane was F/Sgt. JC Atkinson of Rhodesia. Also lost were Sgt. CR Taylor and Sgt. JO Twelvetrees.

A plaque was erected on the site on 24th July 2004 and wreaths are laid on the site on the anniversary of the crash.

For more information and photographs on this commemoration see www.aw288.net to whom thanks for the above image and detailed research.

Day is buried in St. Illogans Churchyard, Illogan, Cornwall.