BBC Breakfast - Flypast

[bulleidboy]

Did you see the flypast this morning? a touching story.

On the 22nd February 1942, Tony (eight years old) was playing football with some mates in a park in Sheffield, when a B17 on one engine came over very low, with a crew member waiving out of the window - probably to clear the park, the kids just thought he was waiving, the plane crashed into woods next to the park, killing all ten crew members. A memorial was set up at the time, and Tony, now in his eighties has been looking after the memorial ever since.

A few weeks ago Dan Walker from Breakfast TV was walking his dog in that same park, and Tony was sweeping leaves from the memorial, and told Dan the story that it would be the 75th anniversary on the 22nd February. Dan said it would be good to have a Flypast - the rest is history. At 8.45am this morning, there were hundreds if not a few thousand people in the park. Charlie and Steph from Breakfast were there with Tony and two relatives of two of the original crew members. The flypast with a C47 (Dakota), a tanker with a couple of Typhoons, and four USAF F15's in "missing man formation". It was a fitting tribute to the crew but also to Tony who considered the crew family - the Beeb also did a good job in getting it organised.

https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status ... 9515295744

[teedoubleudee]

The four F15s flew over Downham Market on their way back to Lakenheath.

[bulleidboy]

They said that the F15's were going to fly over the American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge on their way back to Lakenheath.

[Walkingthedog]

One of the F15 did a zoom climb to 7000ft amsl.

[teedoubleudee]

They said that the F15's were going to fly over the American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge on their way back to Lakenheath.

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[Steve M]

A very moving experience - credit to the RAF, USAF, BBC and Tony Foulds.

[Mr Bones]

Had been watching the progress of this from the start when Dan first mentioned it on Breakfast. It was great to see it all come together. A very emotional day for all concerned.

[Walkingthedog]

A magic moment.

[Tony House]

Hi

Like most have been watching this new item for some time over the last few months.

Watched the fly past on the box C47 followed by Hercules Air Tanker and new aircraft which can rotate its wing through 90 degrees, a heavy Air Tanker then 2 Typhoons and the 4 F15 Eagles.

Pity there was no B17 in the fly pass guess there are not many left flying.

well done to all that took part, make one think how many other memorials are scattered around the country.

[Walkingthedog]

The C47 Dakota is part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the acft with the Hercules tanker was an Osprey based at Lakenheath along with the F15's. The other tanker was a KC135 from Mildenhall. The Typhoons were from Coningsby.