Haven’t sen any mention of this event in the forums –
The last member of an American Air Crew who flew bombing missions from an airfield in Northamptonshire was honoured today in a poignant ceremony.
The crew, who flew out of RAF Deenethorpe as part of the 401st Bombardment Group [on B-17 “Lady Luck”], developed a tradition of smashing the glass bottoms of their ale tankards every time one of them died. Today, the final tankard was smashed.
http://www.itv.com/anglia/ww2-tankard-tradition04687/
Joan Parker, the widow of tail gunner Thomas Parker, travelled to the UK to honour the nine crew members of the “Lady Luck” and to carry out the wishes of the remaining crew that when the last one died their eight tankards would be buried as near as possible to the old airbase near Corby, Northamptonshire.
By: TonyT - 16th June 2011 at 20:53
one wishes them well on their final flight, RIP AND THANK YOU.
By: trumper - 16th June 2011 at 18:23
🙂 Saw that last night.I did wonder how long that would be before some toe rag digs it up if it is unprotected.
A moving story and a sign that times now ,all the crew gone R I P.
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June 16, 2011 at 5:04 pm