Sheffield Memorial / flypast ideas
 

BZ to this chap who has tended the memorial in a Park in Sheffield since witnessing the crash as an 8 year old.
there's a request to arrange a flypast on the 75th anniversary, would be great if this could happen

A bit more information would be useful

apologies, if you click on the tweet above it takes you to a twitter thread by Dan Walker host of BBC breakfast who came across this chap in a Sheffield Park today, he was playing in the park as an 8 year old when a US aircraft crashed with the loss of all on board, and he has been tending the memorial.

Mr Walker encountered him sweeping up today, the gentleman has commented that it would be nice to arrange a flypast on the 75th anniversary on 22 Feb this year.

Get in touch with Lakenheath!

I checked the Lakenheath website. You need to contact the embassy:

http://london.usembassy.gov/dao/index.html

I would be very hopeful of a successful outcome. This is the sort of thing our best friends are very good at. Also good PR for them.

Sally B would be an ideal choice but I would think she will be on her winter maintenance

Good luck to them. Hope it comes off. Worth involving nearest RAFA Branch

I lived just around the corner from Endcliffe Park until a few years ago - I recall there was a fairly full-on ceremony there each year which included an Officer from the USAF so the site is well known to the Americans.

I watched the BBC Breakfast slot this morning, I don't mind admitting that my eyes watered up somewhat.
What a smashing bloke.

I was taken aback by this gentleman's devotion and commitment. Equally with Dan Walker's empathy and reporting. I gather things are moving now to hopefully ensure recognition as requested. BZ all involved.

You probably don't know, but RAFA organizes a memorial every year on the nearest Sunday, to which the USAF sends a representation from RAF Menwith Hill, with a senior officer laying a wreath. I haven't been myself, but I understand many local dignitaries attend this annual service of commemoration, including the Lord Lt for S Yorkshire. The BBC has made no mention of this. I believe this has upset the local RAFA a little. The campaign to have a flypast on the day of the anniversary threatens to put a spoke in the wheel of arrangements made thus far. Sunday itself is a no fly day at Lakenheath, which is no surprise, particularly at this time of year.

Perhaps expectations need to be managed.

Indeed she is, safely in H2 North at IWM Duxford. Its the sort of thing that Ellie would do if she could I'm sure though.

BBC breakfast
 

There will be a news item on this subject after 8:00 (UK time) on BBC Breakfast show this morning.

Just watched it on the BBC. I thought it was a good piece of TV, though sadly again no mention of the annual commemorative service which will take place the following Sunday. Tony does an excellent job of tending the site, but the reporting made it seem as if Tony is the only person who cares, which rather devalues the fine work of the members of Sheffield RAFA, and of the US servicemen and others who support this annual event. But as I said, a good piece of TV.

Details of the flypast were scant, leading us to believe it will be a F-15. Perhaps the full detail is still on close hold, but I suggest if you're in the area, it might be worth a look up.

Prepare for some major disruption on 21/22 Feb if, as the US Ambassador alluded, POTUS comes to town.

POTUS is apparently coming over for the D-Day commemoration in June so perhaps not in Feb.

On the piece from Lakenheath looked like a pilot with RAF flying badge" - if so you can imagine the conversation with his desk officer. "OK, Bloggs, have got you and exchange posting with the USAF".

"Great, where to?"

"Lakenheath".....

Indeed. Must be something contagious in the air.
Well done Mr Foulds.

Seems there is some "serious support" from our American cousins.
The US ambassador has got involved too

Personally, I would hate to see that discreet and dignified event turned into a media circus.

Good of you to point out that others are involved with this, and always have been since the memorial was erected in 1969.

Dunno Wander. I'd quite like an exchange tour on the F-15 personally, even at Lakenheath. :-)

a bit more info on the crash, laid a wreath at a service there in 2012
https://www.thestar.co.uk/retro/retr...-sky-1-6448835


https://sheffieldnewsroom.co.uk/news...iews_mi_amigo/

BBC Breakfast today reminded viewers about tomorrows flypast for Tony over Sheffield. I think they will be live at Lakenheath at 0845 for departures and a time over Sheffield of 0855.
No doubt a BM will be able to add more, I have not had time to look at NOTAMS.

Featured on Beeb website here:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-e...shire-47156632

In the early 60s, a friend of my aunt had a cafe at the foot of that hill and we often used to visit. There was nothing at all to mark the crash site, but people still remembered it.

YouTube video of 2018 ceremony. well done Sheffield RAFA!

Nutloose, I hope that tomorrow's BBC coverage is somewhat less self congratulatory than this piece from January. The point of the memorial, the remembrance, of Tony Fould's devotion over the decades, of RAFA Sheffield's annual ceremony, is all rather lost in the glee of the Beeb's "Surprise!" revelation moment.

I strongly agree with Fatjoff above. The point is that it isn't about the Beeb, then, now, or tomorrow.

Hear Hear MG

Watched it with the sound down until the last moment. Usual banal offerings from the Journos, but still a fitting tribute well executed (although the Typhoon/KC-135 spacing looked "interesting"). Agreed, the Mud Hens did missing man superbly - nice touch to put the crew names on one of the jets and to RTB via Madingley. To be fair to the journos, they did seem quite caught up in the emotion of it all….

As usual, the military doing everyone proud. Suffering from grit in the air here.