Service marks 80 years since two aircraft crashes at Greenham Common
Two aircraft accidents occurred at Greenham Common near the end of the Second World War – just days apart.
A service was held at Greenham Control Tower this morning to remember the 49 US airmen killed in both crashes 80 years ago.
This year’s commemoration attracted special interest, with relatives of the crash victims travelling from the United States to pay their respects.
Camille Dahmen is the great-granddaughter of 2nd Lt Charles Crooks, a pilot on one of the two B-17 bombers which collided over the Common due to bad weather after returning from Germany on December 15, 1944.
He left behind his wife, who gave birth to their first child six weeks later.
The last commemoration Miss Dahmen attended was in 2008, when she was nine.
And she returned today with her aunt Carol Dahmen to lay a wreath in his honour.
Miss Dahmen, now 25, told newburytoday: “It’s just such a visceral experience.
“I’m just so grateful to be here and to have had that trip when I was younger, and to now be able to stand here as an adult, better understanding the weight of what actually happened and this history. It means the absolute world.
“I think it’s something you’re born with, that spark, and that trip in 2008 and then growing up, it was always in the back of my head. It has influenced me greatly.”
Her great-grandfather’s military service inspired her to study for a degree in History and Political Science, and she is now an assistant curator at the Pearl Harbour Aviation Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Another victim of the B-17 crash was S/Sgt Wayne Laubert, who was only 21 when he died.
He was a top turret gunner and was soon to be promoted to Master Sergeant.
He had completed 32 missions, and had only three left before he could be relieved from combat duty.
After the war, his body was taken back to America and he is buried in Missouri.
A wreath was laid on behalf of his granddaughter Debra Henderson, who could not attend.
The other accident occurred three days earlier on December 12, involving a glider.
Thirty-one US paratroopers of the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment and two pilots of the 88th Troop Carrier Squadron were killed during a training exercise when their British-made Horsa Glider crashed shortly after take-off.
The service was held near the crash site at a permanent memorial dedicated by Princess Anne.
The Mayors of Thatcham and Newbury attended, accompanied by representatives from Greenham Control Tower, Greenham Parish Council, Greenham Trust, RAF Welford, the Royal British Legion and Kennet Radio.
Watership Brass provided the music.
Roads and buildings at Greenham Business Park also commemorate the fallen airmen, including Jones Drive, named after glider crash casualty Private Evan Jones in 2006.
