Pigsonthewing: /* Flypast */ +
The '''"Mi Amigo" memorial''' is a war memorial at [[Endcliffe Park]], Sheffield, England, marking the crash site of the [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]] [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17 Flying Fortress]] "Mi Amigo".
== Air crash ==
On 22 February 1944 the aircraft was returning, heavily damaged by defending [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] fighters, from a bombing mission over [[Aalborg]], [[Denmark]]. Around 5pm it crashed in the park with the loss of all 10 crew.
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 (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] for his courage in sacrificing the crew rather than hit children playing in the park. ONe of thsoe children was Tony Foulds, then eight years old.
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 impact of the crash.
== Memorial ==
A grove of [[American oak]]s was planted in 1969 as replacement trees to honour the crew, and a memorial plaque attached to a large boulder.<ref>Access to the memorial site is via a path signposted Woodland Walk, or across the stepping stones next to the cafe.</ref> Since then, Tony Foulds has maintained the memorial.
A descriptor board including a painting of "Mi Amigo", by South Yorkshire artist Paul Rowland was erected by the parks department in time for the 75th anniversary of the crash in 2019.
An annual memorial service organised by the Sheffield branch of the [[Royal Air Forces Association]] is held at the site on the Sunday closest to 22 February.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
== Flypast ==
In 2018, BBC Breakfast presenter [[Dan Walker (broadcaster)|Dan Walker]] met Tony Foulds, by then a pensioner. This lead to Walker publicising Fould's wish for a commemorative flypast.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
On 22 February 2019, at 9:15am, the US Air Force and RAF carried out a fly-past to commemorate the anniversary.<ref name="BBC-47323045">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
Thousands of members of the public watched the flypast from the park, alongside two relatives of the deceased air crew. BBC News' ''[[Breakfast]]'' was broadcast live from the event.<ref name="BBC-47323045" /> The related [[hashtag]]s "#RememberTheTen", "#TonyGotAFlypast", "#MiAmigo75th" and "#sheffieldflypast" were trending on [[Twitter]].<ref name="BBC-47323045" />
== References ==
=== Further reading ===
*
[[Category:World War II memorials in England#]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in England]]
[[Category:History of Sheffield]]
== Air crash ==
On 22 February 1944 the aircraft was returning, heavily damaged by defending [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] fighters, from a bombing mission over [[Aalborg]], [[Denmark]]. Around 5pm it crashed in the park with the loss of all 10 crew.
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 (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] for his courage in sacrificing the crew rather than hit children playing in the park. ONe of thsoe children was Tony Foulds, then eight years old.
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 impact of the crash.
== Memorial ==
A grove of [[American oak]]s was planted in 1969 as replacement trees to honour the crew, and a memorial plaque attached to a large boulder.<ref>Access to the memorial site is via a path signposted Woodland Walk, or across the stepping stones next to the cafe.</ref> Since then, Tony Foulds has maintained the memorial.
A descriptor board including a painting of "Mi Amigo", by South Yorkshire artist Paul Rowland was erected by the parks department in time for the 75th anniversary of the crash in 2019.
An annual memorial service organised by the Sheffield branch of the [[Royal Air Forces Association]] is held at the site on the Sunday closest to 22 February.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
== Flypast ==
In 2018, BBC Breakfast presenter [[Dan Walker (broadcaster)|Dan Walker]] met Tony Foulds, by then a pensioner. This lead to Walker publicising Fould's wish for a commemorative flypast.<ref>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
On 22 February 2019, at 9:15am, the US Air Force and RAF carried out a fly-past to commemorate the anniversary.<ref name="BBC-47323045">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
Thousands of members of the public watched the flypast from the park, alongside two relatives of the deceased air crew. BBC News' ''[[Breakfast]]'' was broadcast live from the event.<ref name="BBC-47323045" /> The related [[hashtag]]s "#RememberTheTen", "#TonyGotAFlypast", "#MiAmigo75th" and "#sheffieldflypast" were trending on [[Twitter]].<ref name="BBC-47323045" />
== References ==
=== Further reading ===
*
[[Category:World War II memorials in England#]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in England]]
[[Category:History of Sheffield]]
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