The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pensioner expects thousands to view flypast to salute heroic US aircrew
Plane came down during Second World War as pilot tried to avoid children in park
A pensioner whose lifelong dedication to 10 American airmen who died when their plane crashed 75 years ago prompted a planned memorial flypast believes thousands of people will turn out for the salute.
Tony Foulds was eight years old in February 1944 when he witnessed the B-17 Flying Fortress, Mi Amigo, crash and explode in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, as the pilot apparently tried to avoid him and his friends.
Mr Foulds, now 82, has spent decades dedicating himself to the memory of the 10 Americans he never met, spending up to six days a week tending the memorial to them in the park.
Next Friday, fighter jets and other military aircraft from Britain and the United States will mark the 75th anniversary of the crash with a flypast over Endcliffe Park.
The salute was arranged after BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker met Mr Foulds during a walk in the park and started a social media campaign.
“I can’t put into words how I feel,” the pensioner said.
“I am going to be in tears all day, there’s no doubt about that.”
Mr Foulds said he has been in touch with people from around the country who will be attending the event and he expects there to be thousands in the park.
Touching the 10 names engraved on the memorial, he said: “They’ll be smiling on that day.”
Mr Foulds said he and the other children were in the park 75 years ago because boys from two rival junior schools were fighting.
He said the Mi Amigo approached low from the Nether Edge area of the city in an obviously bad way, with only one engine, and the crew would have seen the large expanse of grass as a possible landing place.
But when the pilot, Lieutenant John Kriegshauser, saw the children, he decided to circle.
Mr Foulds said the plane tried to get over some trees but the engine failed and it dropped to the ground, burst into flames and exploded.
Captain Jhanelle Haag, USAF Europe-United Kingdom public affairs officer, said: “In partnership with the Royal Air Force, we are planning to deliver a unique flypast to honour the Mi Amigo crew and the incredible men and women in Sheffield that have ensured their sacrifice is never forgotten.”