2009 - 40th Combat Wing Visit
Members of the 40th Combat Wing Reunion Tour visited the 305th Bomb Group memorial on the morning of Saturday 30th May 2009 to lay a wreath at the memorial.
The tour arrived by coach, accompanied by Ian White (305th BGMA UK representative), where they were greeted by Cllr Adrian Dale (as Chairman of the Parish Council) and Rev Canon Grant Brockhouse (as the parish priest). The wreath was laid by Carole Donald (widow of Bill Donald). Afterwards the tour departed in WW2 vehicles provided by Billy Betts's Trucks, Troops and Stores preservation society.
In the afternoon, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, comprising of Avro Lancaster PA474 , Hurricane Mk IIc PZ865 and Spitfire Mk Vb AB910, did a fly-past over the airfield and Yelden Church, where a plaque was unveiled to the Lt Sellers's B-17 crew of 422nd BS, 305th BG, the 8 men from the 1121st Quartermaster Company and two children of the Phillips family, who all died when the B-17 crashed in the village in early hours of 24th March 1944.
Welcoming the 40th CW party to the memorial
Adrian R Dale addresses the party
Carole Donald lays the wreath
The wreath
Trucks, Troops and Stores group restored WW2 vehilces
Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire fly past
Fly past over Yelden Church where the plaque was unveiled.