Sheffield Endcliffe Park fly-past: Latest updates

1. Thousands gathered for a fly-past honouring US airmen killed in 1944
2. The plane came down in a park in Sheffield where children were playing
3. One of those children, Tony Foulds, was so moved he's cared for a memorial to airmen for decades
4. BBC presenter Dan Walker met Tony and was inspired to help him achieve his dream of a fly-past
5. Planes from three RAF bases joined today's fly-past
6. Learn about the men who died in the crash in 1944
7. Eyewitness describes doomed plane's last moments

Thank you for joining us

Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of the fly-past honouring the US airmen killed when their bomber crashed in Endcliffe Park in 1944.

Thousands turned out to watch the fly-past and BBC Breakfast broadcast live from the park.

You can watch the fly-past again here:

The fly-past honours 10 men who died when their plane crashed in Sheffield.

Emotions running high

Jonny McGuigan

Social Media Specialist, BBC Yorkshire

It's been a long, but incredibly emotional morning for everyone at the fly-past.

The long process to return the park back to normal now begins, but not without leaving a special memory for many years to come.

The cameras may be off, but the images captured today will live long in people's memories for many years to come:

Family of airmen 'moved' by fly-past

Among those watching today's fly-past in Endcliffe Park were relatives of the 10 US airmen who died.

The US bomber - a B-17 Flying Fortress known as Mi Amigo - came down in Endcliffe Park on 22 February 1944, killing everyone on board.

BBC

Jim Kriegshauser, pictured above with his wife Mary, is the nephew of the bomber's pilot Lt John Kreigshauser, from St Louis, Missouri.

He said: "It’s an honour. Unbelievable.

"It kind of touched a nerve and showed the mobility of the human spirit.

"We saw correspondence between my grandparents saying Sheffield would never forget. They clearly never forgot."

His wife, Mary, said: "When the planes flew over I was almost crying.

"So emotional - it filled with emotion when we saw the Missing Man Formation."

Thousands witness 'moving' fly-past

Thousands of people have witnessed a fly-past honouring 10 airmen who died when their plane crashed in a Sheffield park 75 years ago.

BBC

The US bomber - a B-17 Flying Fortress known as Mi Amigo - came down in Endcliffe Park on 22 February 1944, killing everyone on board.

A campaign for a fly-past started after a chance meeting between BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker and Tony Foulds.

Tony, 82, witnessed the crash and regularly tends to the park's memorial.

He believes the pilot took action to avoid crashing into him and his friends playing in the park.

BBC

If it hadn't been for them, I wouldn't be here with my family. "It's more than bravery, what they did. They saved me, and I mean saved me. These are now part of my family, my ashes are going to be put by the memorial. I might as well stay with them, you know."

Tony Foulds

Tony Foulds 'overwhelmed' by support

Tony Foulds was a child of eight when he witnessed the Mi Amigo crash in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield.

For decades he has been determined those 10 airmen who died were remembered and he has maintained the memorial to them.

Today's fly-past was a dream and he told the BBC he was "overwhelmed" by the number of people who turned up to help #RememberTheTen.

BBC

Police: Take care as you leave

South Yorkshire Police has asked people to take care as they leave Endcliffe Park after this morning's fly-past.

The force also thanked the thousands who turned out for the fly-past:

Watch the fly-past

Here's the full fly-past, in memory of 10 US airmen who died when their bomber crashed in Sheffield in 1944, as shown on BBC Breakfast this morning:

'I can't talk' - Dan Walker

It was clearly an emotional moment for Dan Walker.

The BBC presenter met the man who cared for the memorial to the crew of the Mi Amigo, which had crashed in Sheffield in 1944.

Tony Foulds inspired Dan and ultimately led to today's special fly-past.

Unfortunately Dan is training for a Sports Relief Challenge in Tanzania, but he managed to watch the fly-past:

Tears and applause as fly-past takes place

There were tears and applause as the fly-past, in memory of 10 US airmen killed when their plane crashed in a Sheffield park in 1944, passed overhead this morning.

The fly-past had long been the dream of Tony Foulds, who witnessed the crash as a child, who has cared for the memorial to the dead airmen for years.

Here's some pictures of the crowds as the fly-past took place:

BBC

BBC

BBC

BBC

Watch the fly-past live

Not long to go now until the fly-past honouring the US airmen killed when their plane crashed at Endcliffe Park in Sheffield in 1944.

If you haven't managed to join the large crowds at Endcliffe Park today then you can still watch full live coverage of today's remarkable fly-past here:

BBC

Dan Walker joins celebrations... from Tanzania

When the BBC's Dan Walker met Tony Foulds they forged a bond which would lead to an incredible friendship, and ultimately to today's event.

But Dan has been absent from today's proceedings.

He is in final training for a Sport Relief Challenge, climbing up Kilimanjaro:

Watch: Where did it all begin?

Today's fly-past is proving very popular on social media.

Both #RememberTheTen and #TonyGotAFlypast are trending online.

But, you may be asking where it all begin?

The BBC's Dan Walker and Tony Foulds told the One Show all about their surprise meeting, earlier this week:

BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker told the One Show how the pair met

Fly-past pilot: 'A great honour'

A pilot who is among those flying over Sheffield as part of a fly-past to mark the anniversary of the crash of a US bomber plane in the city in 1944 has said it's a "great honour".

Getty Images

The plane - a B-17 Flying Fortress known as Mi Amigo - came down in Endcliffe Park, in 1944 killing all 10 airmen on board.

Capt Benjamin Coffey, from the US Air Force, will be flying his F-15E Strike Eagle over the park later.

"It's a huge honour for all of us being able to take part," he said.

"This history just can't be forgotten.

"Being able to take part in these fly-pasts to honour this air crew is a way to remember those who came before us."

Police drone captures views of crowd at Endcliffe Park

South Yorkshire Police is out in force today to ensure everyone's safety ahead of the fly-past honouring the US airmen killed in a crash at Endcliffe Park, in Sheffield.

The force has posted these great shots of the crowds:

'Important to remember'

Oli Constable

BBC Yorkshire Live

There are a lot of former servicemen and women here today.

It's clear they not only want to pay tribute to the ten US airmen who died in the crash here in 1944, but they also have a great deal of respect for Tony Foulds.

He witnessed the crash as a child and has cared for the memorial here in Endcliffe Park for years.

Dave Patterson, from Essex, is one of those who have travelled here today.

The former Marine said: "It's extremely important to remember those who have died and important to remember the work of Tony Foulds too."

BBC

Watch: Crashed plane 'was a pile of ashes'

A man who saw the remains of a crashed US bomber in Sheffield 75 years ago has returned to the site for the first time in decades to see a memorial to those who lost their lives.

The B-17 Flying Fortress came down in Endcliffe Park in 1944 killing all 10 airmen on board.

Ray Neil, who was 14 when he saw the wreckage of the plane, said it "was a pile of ashes".

Now he's gone back to the site to see the memorial ahead of today's fly-past to mark the anniversary of the crash:

Ray Neil talks about when he saw the crashed US bomber in a Sheffield park.

Meet the pilots leading today's flight

Crews from the US Air Force base at RAF Lakenheath will be leading out the fly-past today.

Pilots 'Irish' and 'Scar' will be performing the missing man formation, in tribute to the fallen:

Pilots from the 494 Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath are in the Sheffield flypast.

Eyewitness describes doomed plane's last moments

An eyewitness to the crash of a B-17 Flying Fortress in Sheffield 75 years ago says he remembers running for his life as he saw the plane "nose-diving".

Keith Peters

A fly-past to mark the anniversary of the fatal plane crash is due to take place over Endcliffe Park after a campaign led by BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker.

Keith Peters, above middle, now 83, was living in Meadow Terrace off Sharrow Vale Road at the time of the crash.

He was nine-years-old when he witnessed it while playing football in the park.

"We were at the back of the bandstand, just kicking the ball about", said Mr Peters, who still lives in South Yorkshire.

"We heard this queer noise and we looked round and we saw this huge bomber flying across the park towards where we were stood.

BBC

"So we ran away, away from the flight path, as it were. I looked round when we were running away and I could just see that the plane was sort of nose-diving and ploughed in to all these trees."

Mr Peters said he and his friends ran from the crash, but soon returned to see the devastating scene.

Keith Peters

"I saw this American airman propped up against a tree. The thing was on fire, bullets were going off and finally somebody come and moved us away.

"But I was told shortly after that this airman that we saw was the tailgunner and he had got thrown out of the plane on impact."

Crowds come from far and wide

Oli Constable

BBC Yorkshire Live

It seems plenty of people have wanted to watch the special fly-past and pay their own tribute to the men who died in the crash here all those years ago.

BBC

Julia Johnson, pictured below, said she had come specially from London for the event.

She said: "I saw the article on the BBC website about Tony and the hard work and felt I really wanted to be here on the day, regardless of fly-past."

Julia said she cried when she heard the story.

The florist said she'd also offered to make a wreath for the servicemen who died in the crash.

"It’s fantastic and I’m very excited. Got the buzz walking here from the hotel.

"Lots staying at the hotel round the corner for this morning."

BBC

BBC

Watch: Dan Walker pays tribute to Tony

BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker discovered the story of Mi Amigo and how Tony Fould's has cared for the memorial for decades while walking in Sheffield.

He's paid tribute to the 82-year-old who has cared for the memorial 'selflessly' for many years:

Dan Walker says Tony Foulds is an 'amazing person, doing an amazing thing'.