Eye memorial unveiled 80 years after B-17 Pathfinder crash

The memorial plaque was unveiled in a ceremony nearly eighty years to the minute, of when the accident happened

A memorial commemorating the lives of 13 American airmen and four British civilians killed in an air crash 80 years ago has been unveiled.

The B-17 Flying Fortress was on a routine ferry flight from Dickleburgh, Norfolk, to RAF Alconbury near Huntingdon when it caught on fire.

Despite an attempted landing on a new runway at Eye Airfield, the plane hit a line of trees.

The memorial in Suffolk will commemorate the lives of 17 people.

The American Airmen were killed in the incident after their aircraft caught fire moments into a routine journey

The B-17 Pathfinder involved in the crash was equipped with ground scanning H2X radar for night time bombing.

The new memorial has been built on the grounds of Oaksmere Hotel in Eye, where the crash happened 80 years ago.

Norfolk stonemasons Bierton & Woods made the granite plaque which sits on top of the memorial.

Family members of the aircrew travelled from the United States to join families of the four men from Suffolk killed that day.

The four civilians, who were from Finningham, Langton Green, Wetheringsett and Stradbroke, had been working for the council at the scene when they were struck by the aircraft as it crashed.

Wreaths were laid at the site of the memorial