Around 100 people attended the unveiling of a memorial to a plane’s crew almost 80 years to the day since it came down near Lutton.
A bench has been placed at St Nicholas Church remembering the eight man American crew, six of whom died, after their B-17 collided with another plane mid-flight on April 26, 1945.
US Air Force personnel based at Lakenheath were among the attendees on Sunday, April 27 as a bench was unveiled with the names of the crew.
Others included Holbeach Air Cadets, standard bearers, Holbeach Town Band, MP Sir John Hayes and 101-year-old RAF veteran Douglas Marsh.
The service was conducted by Rev Andy Hawes and was followed by a talk from historian Anna Grimshaw, whose friend bought a flight bag online belonging to crew member Lt Clyde Simmons leading to her researching the events surrounding the crash.
Harold Payne also spoke about seeing its aftermath as a child when living in Gedney Drove End. He also brought his military vehicle with him and funded the buffet and commissioned pictured of the ill-fated bomber which will be displayed in the Memorial Garden at Fleet Hargate.
As well as the church, the memorial was arranged by Lutton Parish Council and Long Sutton Civic Society.
The latter’s vice chair Wendy Jeffries said: “It was an excellent day and we were delighted with the turnout.”
