A TEAR-JERKING memorial service took place on Canvey yesterday to remember those who lost their lives in a plane crash over the island in 1944.

The service was held to remember the eleven men who died in the crash.

The collision, between two B17 Flying Fortresses, happened directly over Canvey Island.

Yesterday’s event took place at the B17 community board, on Beveland Road, while poppies were scattered out at sea, over the site of the wreckage of one of the planes, Heavenly Body II, as part of the commemoration.

A reception was arranged for invited guests at the yacht club, after the service.

Echo:

As a result of the plane crash, debris was dispersed across the island, and was discovered by Gary Foulger in the 1970s, who attended the service yesterday.

Mr Foulger, 61, said: “I’m emotionally shot to pieces.

“To meet the family members of those men is gobsmacking.

“I was humbled to be able to have a hug with the daughter of one of the survivors, whose father died a few years ago.

“You could see in her eyes that she was so grateful to speak to someone that remembered her dad.

Gary, who was born and raised on Canvey, recounted what happened when he found the scattered aircraft pieces.

He said: “I’d heard about the rumours and the stories of the crash; I was scavenging around on the marshes.

“I researched it all in the library; the plane I found was on their 29th mission, the other one was only on their first.

“Eleven poor souls lost their lives.

“It’s our turn to care for them and their families.”

Janet Warden, chairman of the Canvey Archive, who organised the service, said: “It went really well.

“Everyone who gave their speeches were really emotional, but they held it all together.

“We had people from America, who spoke about their memories.

“It was great for them to fly all this way to come over.”

Former councillor Ray Howard praised the community spirit on the Island, adding: “Canvey is such a tight community.

“The community spirit shown today was unbelievable.

“As a Canvey Islander, it was really emotional.”

He added: “I paid tribute in a speech and I wanted to pay tribute to everybody.

“It makes you wonder what Canvey Island would have been like if the Americans hadn’t helped us and we hadn’t won the war.

“A number of Americans came over, they gave a speech and a presentation.

“The whole area was packed.

“The Canvey archive did a fantastic job.”

To find out more about the collision between the aircraft in 1944, visit http://www.canveyisland.org/category/world_war_ii_b-17g_aircraft_collision.