Tony Foulds leads tributes on Mi Amigo Sheffield plane crash anniversary

Today (Saturday, February 22) marks 76 years to the day since the Mi Amigo plane crash, and one year since a special flypast by US and British air forces in the park which recognised the seventy-fifth anniversary of the tragedy.

The flypast was organised thanks to the help of Dan Walker from BBC breakfast and The Star, who championed Tony's work over the years.

On February 22, 1944, a US aircraft was returning from a mission but, with engines failing, the pilot, who was losing altitude, was left with a choice; land in Endcliffe Park where children were playing or crash in the woods next to the park and save the children.

Lt John Kriegshauser chose the latter and he and his nine crew all died in the crash.

A permenant memorial to the heroes was built in Endcliffe Park in 1969.

At around 7am on Saturday, a small crowd gathered at the memorial to pay their respects. The American flag which was flown in the missing man formation during last year’s ceremony was raised over the memorial, with standard-bearers from different regiments taking turns throughout the day to stand guard, swapping every hour.

At 5pm – the time of the crash - the flag was lowered and Pat Davey, chair of the Sheffield and District Joint Council of Ex-Servicemen, gave a speech.

As the flag lowered, Taps – a bugle melody similar to The Last Post played at US military funerals – was played.

Leading the tributes once again this morning was 83-year-old Tony, who was one of the boys playing in the field when the plane crashed. Tony, from Lowedges, has made it his life mission to make sure their sacrifice is not forgotten. More than seven decades on, he is still plagued with guilt that he lived and they did not, and tends to the memorial on an almost-daily basis.

Draped in a US flag and wearing a stars and stripes bandana, Tony laid a wreath at the memorial which read: “To my 10 lads, lots of love. God bless, Tony”.

In pictures: honouring the Mi Amigo heroes who crashed in Sheffield 76 years ago

This morning’s Sheffield Hallam parkrun, which takes place in Endcliffe Park, also had a special stars and stripes theme to commemorate the anniversary of the crash. Runners carried American flags and some wore red, white and blue colours to mark the occasion. Tony joined the event stewards to cheer on participants in the blustery conditions.

The main ceremony to remember the men takes place on the closest Sunday to February 22 each year, and this year will take place tomorrow.

The service will begin at 1pm at the memorial in Endcliffe Park before proceeding to St Augustine’s church on Brocco Bank, which is located nearby, from 2pm onwards.

A band will also play a song written about the Mi Amigo in the church foyer.