US family to attend Skye tribute to crash pilot
Relatives of an American military pilot killed on Skye’s Trotternish Ridge during the Second World War are to make an emotional journey to the island this week.
The family members will attend a commemoration of the tragedy when the B-17 Flying Fortress crashed during fog at Beinn Edra in Staffin on March 3, 1945.
The plane had been travelling from America to an RAF base in Wales when it crashed, killing all nine crew members – including 21-year-old pilot Lieutenant Paul Overfield Jr.
The Staffin community on Skye will mark the 75th anniversary of the fatal collision on Tuesday.
After the crash, local men attempted to rescue the stricken crew. And Lt Overfield’s family are travelling from Arizona to pay their respects and learn more about the disaster.
His sister Betty Foote, now in her late 80s and living in Florida, is not able to make the trip but is delighted her family will be represented.
The family was unaware the crew’s names were added to the Staffin War Memorial five years ago to mark the 70th anniversary.
Mrs Foote recalled the day she was told her brother had died. “I was 13 and in eighth grade. The minister came to the school and took us home. We received notice of the crash within days and his letter came after the telegram.”
Former Army chaplain, the Rev Rory MacLeod, will lead the commemoration at 11.15am on Tuesday at Staffin War Memorial. The US relatives will then visit the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre in Portree to discover more about the crash.
The commemoration has been organised by Staffin Community Trust, supported by Staffin Community Council.