Francis (Frank) was born in 1921 in Hackney, London to Jacob and Fanny née Templehoff and he had three older sisters Irene, Edna and Stella. Their father Jacob was born in Minsk and became a naturalised British subject in 1903. Jacob’s father Raphael opened a well known book and music shop in 1899 which existed until 1970. In 1939, the family were living in Finchley and Frank’s father is listed as a shoe manufacturer.

Frank had a cousin David Temple who was two months younger than him. Frank’s mother Fanny Templehoff was the sister of Myer Temple whose son David was also killed serving and has a page on the website.

Frank was the navigator on Halifax W7878 which departed RAF Graveley on a night operation to Krefeld. The aircraft crashed into the sea off the Dutch coast. All crew were killed and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Pilot, Michael Wilfred Peter Clarke
A/B, Bewick Johnston Dowse
Francis Montague Mazin
W/Op, Harry Richard Fink
A/G, Alister Campbell MacLeod
A/G, Joseph Georges Paul Emille Richer
F/E, Cledwyn Matthew Harcombe