Popular Post Night Train Posted January 23, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted January 23, 2019 Sheffield man's pride tending to plane crash memorial A man who regularly tends to a memorial honouring 10 airmen who died in a plane crash in a Sheffield park says he "loves them like my own son or daughter". Tony Foulds saw the American B-17 bomber crash in Endcliffe Park in 1944 when he was eight years old. Since a memorial was erected in the 1970s, Tony has regularly kept plants watered and the area clean to remember the men who died. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the Sheffield man says the crew of the Flying Fortress steered away from him and his friends playing in the field before crashing into a wood.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-en...d-man-s-pride-tending-to-plane-crash-memorial Since this story aired, a local reporter Dan Walker has bought the story to a wider audience. It was Tony's wish that the 75th anniversary of the crash be commemorated with a flypast. The story has been gathering momentum and today Dan received a letter from the US Ambassador confirming that arrangements were underway with the US Air Force and RAF to ensure the 75th anniversary will be remembered with the recognition it deserves.https://twitter.com/mrdanwalker/status/1087657402940436480https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/1087637700637798405 Well done Tony. 35 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Looks like the names of the crew are on the memorial. I wonder if their relatives were traced and have been kept informed, especially of this event. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Colin Posted January 23, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) Saw it on BBC Breakfast yesterday. A touching story indeed. Well done Tony! Edited January 23, 2019 by Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Yes, it was a very moving interview yesterday. Tony talked for some time about the incident and said he saw the pilot waving to him to get away as he tried in vain to get the plane down without injury to the crew. That thought stayed with him ever since and it was just pure chance that he met Dan Walker out with his dog. He had no idea who Dan was and simply described hime 'as a bloke out walking his dog'.... Since the first time the story was aired a month or so, it has taken off via social media and is now well reported around the world. This morning they said that a nephew of one of the crew in the US is certainly aware of the story and he may come to the UK for the flypast on the 22nd February. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) Looks like the names of the crew are on the memorial. I wonder if their relatives were traced and have been kept informed, especially of this event. Apparently one of the relatives will be coming over, I been following this story and when I watched it I couldn't stop the tears flowing! This guy has shown selfless devotion to remembering the bomber crew, I'm so glad he will get his wish. Seeing the way Honours are dished out at New Year etc here is someone that truly deserves something. I wish there were more of his kind in this world. A real unsung hero. Steve. Edited January 23, 2019 by sb67 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Colin Posted January 23, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2019 It made me see Dan Walker in a new light too. I had previously tended to dismiss him as a bit of a lightweight on TV, a competent sports presenter who was always a bit too full of “in” jokes and chit-chat to be taken seriously on the breakfast prog. He showed his true worth bringing this story to everyone IMHO. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 (edited) Just a gentle reminder guys, the flypast to honour the 10 aircrew killed all those years ago will be tomorrow and will be on BBC Breakfast. Unfortunately Dan Walker who brought Tony to our attention has had to go off to to Kilimanjaro for a charity mountain climb, so will miss the moment. One of most tear jerking moments for years....... A lovely story after all the Brexit stuff. Edited February 22, 2019 by gordon s 7 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted February 22, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2019 Fly past is today at 8:45 am. Weather good so it should go ahead in 40 minutes. Some planes are in the air already. A wonderful story and fantastic effort by Tony, BBC, RAF and USAF for making today's event happen. 4 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 22, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2019 Tony Foulds, Sheffield and the flying community have done something very special and appropriate today Humble thanks Phil 1 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted February 22, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2019 Well that was impressive, and emotional. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 I just glimpsed the Dakota on its way home over Rotherham, about 0850. Quite a sound, and top marks to the top brass for organising something like this. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 (edited) Wonderful flypast this morning and the look on Tony's face was fantastic. Just a shame that the quality of the video feed from the helicopter went so bad when the Osprey and C130 flew past. I wonder if anyone tried to get the Sally B (the only airworthy B17 in the UK) involved... Edited February 22, 2019 by johndon 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBRJ Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 I saw this from quite nearby - It was particularly poignant to me as some of the children who were in the park at the time of the crash were my dad's school friends. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted February 22, 2019 Author Share Posted February 22, 2019 2 hours ago, johndon said: Wonderful flypast this morning and the look on Tony's face was fantastic. Just a shame that the quality of the video feed from the helicopter went so bad when the Osprey and C130 flew past. I wonder if anyone tried to get the Sally B (the only airworthy B17 in the UK) involved... Apparently Sally B spends the winter months undergoing major engineering work ready for the summer flying season. Looked to be an epic turnout in Sheffield. Well done Tony and everyone else. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Colin Posted February 22, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 22, 2019 (edited) I wonder if seeing the B17 Sally B might have been more than Tony could have coped with - I just feel so sorry for the poor bloke who appears to have struggled with guilt for all those years. IMHO he has absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, he was just a boy playing with his mates. Edited February 22, 2019 by Colin 1 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 They picked up video of Dan Walker watching it on an iPad in Africa. Like most of us, he was in tears..... Amazing that the whole thing started whilst Dan was walking his dog and stopped for a chat. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted February 22, 2019 Share Posted February 22, 2019 Had tears in my eyes watching this today, throughout and leading up to the Event Tony has always said ''it's for them" What a humble selfless man, if any body deserves an honour it's this guy. Well done to Dan Walker and the BBC for getting it all together as well. Steve. 2 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dickon Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 An MBE for service to the community would be appropriate. 1 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted February 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 23, 2019 Or perhaps a USA honour. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 23, 2019 36 minutes ago, Colin_McLeod said: Or perhaps a USA honour. Have to agree with that Colin... he has spent his life honouring members of the USAAF Phil 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Markwj Posted February 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 23, 2019 Have seen some of the flypast on t'internet so what was involved I saw C130, typhoons what looked like f15's and the Dakota. What else flew over? thanks mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike Bellamy Posted February 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 24, 2019 9 hours ago, Markwj said: Have seen some of the flypast on t'internet so what was involved I saw C130, typhoons what looked like f15's and the Dakota. What else flew over? thanks mark Copied below from BBC News Planes that took part in the flypast F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath KC-135 Stratotanker MC-130J Commando II CV-22 Osprey from RAF Mildenhall Typhoon from RAF Coningsby Dakota from RAF Coningsby https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-47323045 . 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dickon Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 14 hours ago, Colin_McLeod said: Or perhaps a USA honour. That would be a lot more complicated than giving him a British award as the British Sovereign would have to approve the award as well as the US authorities. The basic rules are as below: No UK citizen may accept and wear a foreign award without The Sovereign’s permission. Such permission must be sought as soon as there is an indication that an award may be offered. The granting of permission for a UK citizen to accept an award offered by a foreign state will only be considered if the award recognises specified services rendered to the interests of that foreign state. Permission will not be given for UK citizens to accept a foreign award if they have received, or are expected to receive, a UK award for the same services. Under exceptional circumstances the British Sovereign may decided to grant an award for for service for which the recipient has already been given a foreign medal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted February 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 24, 2019 Looks like the rules take care of the possibility of a foreign award. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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