F15 jets flypast in memory of Mi Amigo, USAAF B17 bomber that crashed in Endcliffe Park during WW2.

The Star, Sheffield

Transcript

00:00 [Horn]

00:05 [Horn]

00:08 [Train horn]

00:14 [Train horn]

00:29 [Horn]

00:32 Tony, could you tell me please about the flypast today and how you're feeling about it?

00:36 This will make me cry, I can tell you now, that's the first thing.

00:41 These died for me, they certainly died for me.

00:47 I feel the guilt now as I did when it first crashed.

00:53 So it's alright, you know, I know I've got people who say that I wasn't here on the day.

01:02 But I can swear on my father and mother, I wasn't on the day.

01:09 And what does the flypast today mean to you?

01:13 Excited, can't wait.

01:17 And what's your memory of the day that it happened?

01:20 Oh, I can remember it like yesterday. You know, you don't forget these things.

01:26 So what did you see on the day?

01:30 I'm trying to think of the week.

01:35 North East, so it came over Fletchville, Gleadless, Netheredge, oh that's it, yeah.

01:48 And was it clear that there was something wrong?

01:52 Oh yeah, it was badly damaged, you could see that it couldn't have gotten further than this.

01:58 This would have been his last place.

02:02 What would your message be to people about that crew?

02:09 This crew are the most brave I've ever come across.

02:14 For the simple reason, I know there were a lot of people died, God bless them,

02:20 but they died when they shouldn't have done.

02:24 They died because of me and my five lads that were with them.

02:29 If we hadn't have been on there, they would have lived to grow up a nice old age,

02:33 because they would have landed on here.

02:37 So do you feel you owe your life to them?

02:39 Of course, this is why I look after them every day.

02:43 Hello, could you tell me your name please and what you're here for at Enfield Park today?

02:47 My name's Graham, I'm here today to honour the crew of the Mi Amigo that crashed here in Enfield Park.

02:55 We was here at the 75th anniversary five years ago.

02:59 A few other guys that were with me that couldn't make it today,

03:04 but I've got my captain here with me, Dean.

03:07 I've been involved with the flight past since five years ago when the flight past came to Sheffield for Tony Foulds.

03:16 And we've been coming for the anniversary, apart from lockdown.

03:23 And we've been trying to get flight pasts for every anniversary,

03:27 and this is the first one since the original flight past.

03:31 How much does it mean to you all?

03:34 As being a local lad from Sheffield, it means quite a lot.

03:39 Tony's given up most of his life caring for the memorial and the ten lives that were lost.

03:45 And can you tell me a bit about the uniform you're wearing and why you're wearing it and the organisation you're part of now?

03:52 Well, the uniform I'm wearing at the moment is the United States Army Air Force rank of captain and insignia of pilot.

04:01 I wear this because obviously I'm a World War II re-enactor.

04:05 I wear this along with British RAF and British Army uniforms.

04:10 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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