Heroic Crew Remembered

9 November, 2015

 

The 10 man crew of an American Liberator bomber that crashed on the 12th August 1944 killing all on board were recently honoured in a service of remembrance which was attended by Provincial Grand Master Paul Gower, Deputy Provincial Grand Master James Young and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters David Ferris, Jim Harrison, Jay Patel and Michael Cooper. Organised by the Hertfordshire Lodge of the Legion the service took place on Saturday 31st October at The Liberator Memorial, Lieutenant Ellis Way, Cheshunt.

The United States Air Force bomber which was flying over Cheshunt on route to a mission in Northern France got into difficulties and the crew are thought to have steered their bomb-laden aircraft clear of the town  thus avoiding a catastrophic disaster that would have cost many of the  local citizens their lives.  As well as many Masons and members of the public the well attended service also included the Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert  Gordon, the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Jonathan Trower, the Mayor of  Broxbourne Cllr Martin Greensmyth, Major Jeffrey Beard of the USAF and an Honour Guard and Firing Party from the USAF based at RAF Mildenhall.

A 27 minute video of the service, produced by Dave Hewitt, can be found on Youtube

https://youtu.be/xgsV3vmuZ4E

Picture attached (taken by David Stockman) shows from left to right- Provincial Grand Master Paul Gower Deputy Lieutenant Robert Gordon High Sheriff Jonathan Trower Major Jeffrey Beard USAF

Picture attached (taken by David Stockman) shows from left to right-
Provincial Grand Master Paul Gower
Deputy Lieutenant Robert Gordon
High Sheriff Jonathan Trower
Major Jeffrey Beard USAF