Endcliffe park plane crash feb 1944 any info please

[howsmicha 10]

Walking through Endciffe park today I came across a plaque dedicated to a crew of US airmen who were killed when their plane crashed in the park in feb 1944. I had never heard of this before despite living in the sharrow ara most of my early life. Any info on this topic will be much appreciated. Mant thanks. Michael Howson..

[Litotes 63]

http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A7563783

[speleo1 10]

http://aircrashsites.co.uk/air-crash-sites-5/usaaf-b-17-42-31322-mi-amigo-endcliffe-park-sheffield-2/

[taxman 12]

Copied from Wiki

 

 

"There is also a memorial stone marking the crash site of the USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress "Mi Amigo". On 22 February 1944 the aircraft was returning, heavily damaged by defending Me-109 fighters, from a bombing mission over Aalborg, Denmark. Around 5pm it crashed in the park with the loss of all 10 crew. An annual memorial service organised by the Royal Air Forces Association is held at the site on the Sunday closest to 22 February.[1]

 

The full story of the brave crew of the 'Mi-Amigo' is told in a book published in June 2014 on Amazon Kindle by local military historian Paul Allonby, called Courage Above the Clouds. This book uses military documents from the USA, Denmark and Germany to piece together the mission, and the fateful combat with the Me109s of 11/JG11 who were among the Luftwaffe fighters vectored to take on the 64-strong diversionary formation of B17s, whose mission was to draw fighters away from a larger US 8th Air Force bomber stream heading towards targets in Germany.

 

The pilot of the 'Mi-Amigo', from the 364th Bomber Squadron, based at Chelveston, Northamptonshire, was Lt John Kriegshauser who received a posthumous US Distinguished Flying Cross for his courage in sacrificing the crew rather than hit children playing in the park.

 

When viewed from Rustlings Road/Ecclesall Road the crash site can still be seen, marked by a noticeable drop in the height of the trees on the hillside behind the cafe. This was because a dozen trees were uprooted, or needed felling, due to the devastating impact of the crash. A grove of American oaks was planted in 1969 as replacement trees to honour the crew. Access to the memorial site is via a path signposted Woodland Walk, or across the stepping stones next to the cafe."

 

 

There is a service every year when the Royal British Legion plus US Airforce lay wreaths.

[sheffandy 24]

http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/50-mi-amigo/

[Event Horizo 10]

fateful combat with the Me109s of 11/JG11 who were among the Luftwaffe fighters vectored to take on the 64-strong diversionary formation of B17s

 

Actually the FW190's were the main Luftwaffe force used to punch through to the B17's. They used the 109 G1 and G6 to engage the P51 mustang escorts 'little friends'.

[puddinghead 10]

was attending Greystone at the time and few days later was look for bits of the plane knew nothing at that early had no idea what happened not until many years later did we learn of the deaths

[slugweed 10]

Thanks to the BBC and presenter Dan Walker I am now aware of the terrible incident that occurred at Endcliffe Park almost 75 years ago. I found it moving to say the least that Mr Tony Foulds who witnessed the crash as a young boy still tends the memorial to this day. Does anyone know which airfield the aircraft involved ( Mi Amigo ) was operating from in Northamptonshire. Additionally I understand that moves are afoot to get a flypast arranged by the RAF aerobatic team The Red Arrows on the 75 anniversary to the day, this of course would be great. It has occurred to me that to the best of my knowledge the only airworthy and serviceable B17 left in Europe is Sally B based at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. It would be most fitting if this aircraft of the very same type as Mi Amigo could also be involved in a flypast . I have no idea how much this would cost to arrange but feel sure from the interest the public has shown in this that sufficient funds could be raised to facilitate this by way of donations. 

[Waldo 96]

I was made aware of this recently too, though not via the bbc. I thought some US air base was involved too, they heard about the story, and reached out to Tony and will be doing some fly past of something to mark the occasion. Sorry I can't remember where saw that.

[Jim Hardie 527]

A bit more information.

 

https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/

 

https://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/topic/50-mi-amigo/

[slugweed 10]

Good evening Jim, many thanks for responding to my recent post regarding the ill fated B17 Mi Amigo. The link you provided did most certainly provide the information I was looking for,  relative to which airfield in Northamptonshire Mi Amigo was operating from on 22nd February 1944.

It transpires the airfield was Chelveston just off the B645 near Rushden. I know this area quite well and while there is not much of the airfield left today there is plenty of evidence of its existence in the past.

The full article was most interesting to read and provided me with a lot of information I was unaware of.

Thank you Jim for pointing me in the right direction.

Best regards John.

aka  slugweed. 

[P.B. Model 0]

Does anyone have details of the Mi Amigo nose art? Have all the other markings. Just need this so I can finish off a model of the aircraft