On 1 April 1942, the RAF Hudson Mk.III, AE558 crashed near Budna and last week, the community came together at St Mary Virgin, Northill, to dedicate a permanent memorial stone to the young airmen who lost their lives.
Richard Fuller MP said:
It takes particular kindness and perseverance to uncover the story of a forgotten air crash and to bring a community together to remember those lost and to establish a permanent memorial in their memory.
Eighty four years ago, four airmen set off from Norfolk on a training mission ahead of their imminent departure with their squadron to defend Burma from the advancing forces of the Japanese.
Half way though their mission, their engines were starved of fuel and the aircraft crashed near Budna, in Northill Parish, killing all four onboard. Three were in their twenties: one just nineteen.
Their story lay forgotten all these years until local resident, Greg Horsford, chanced upon a reference to the site of the crash on an old map of local fields.
Thanks to his efforts and those of his steering group, funds were raised, families of those lost contacted, and a memorial stone crafted to be placed in the grounds of the Church of St Mary Virgin in Northill.
With the Royal British Legion in attendance, the Bishop of Bedford led the dedication service. A reminder to us all of the sacrifice that we may ask of our service personnel.
