THE daughter of an American airman whose plane came down off Canvey Point during the Second World War has been welcomed to the island.

Barbara Tarbox, and her husband John travelled from Virginia, USA, on behalf of Barbara’s father, Dick Andrews, – the only living survivor of the crash.

They made the journey last week to visit a commemorative mural painting and plaque on the Point’s seawall created by the Open Arts Group, from Hadleigh.

The group spent more than three months painting the mural, which features the names and faces of the ten crew members who perished in the crash, in 1944.

Two B17 Flying Fortress bombers collided over the Thames Estuary, with one crashing on to Canvey Point.

Both the Open Art and the Friends of Concord Beach groups officially unveiled the seawall mural last month.

Sue Richardson, of Zelham Drive, Canvey, who led the project, said: “It was a fantastic occasion, and it was lovely to see Barbara’s reaction to the mural.

“It took a lot for our members to be there and to meet Barbara and John.

“It was nice to have that connection and to tie the ribbon on the mural, so to speak.

“What was most pleasing is that she felt we captured the emotion and the essence of it all in the painting.”

Chas Mumford, a Castle Point councillor and member of the Friends of Concord Beach, said: “Barbara’s a delightful lady, and it topped it all off nicely.

“Barbara had contacted a friend of ours saying she was visiting the UK and was really keen to meet the mural’s artists.

“She was incredibly moved and I am sure her father will be delighted to see photos and videos of the mural.”