The 81st anniversary of a plane crash in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield was marked with a Red, White and Blue park run last Saturday in memory of the men that died.

The plane, known as ‘Mi Amigo’ was an American USAAF B-17 which crashed into Endcliffe Park on 22 February, 1944 while returning from a bombing raid.

Tony Foulds, 88, witnessed the crash as he was in the park with his friends and saw the pilot make the decision to crash into the forest, sacrificing their lives. Mr Foulds now dedicates his life to tending to the memorial.

He said: “I come every single day, apart from Monday. They saved my life. I’ve taken on the weight of knowing these lads.”

The event, which has been run since 2020, following the publicity from the 75th anniversary with a fly-over in the park, allows runners to pay their respects to the ten men who died in the crash as they run past the memorial.

Mr Foulds said: “I high five every young person that runs past and the reason I do that is they are the same age I was when I first saw this. And every clap that I do for the runners, is passed over to those lads.

“You must always remember history. Because without that there would be nothing.”

The park run had an approximate 900 racers in attendance, wearing the colours of the American flag and some wearing the flag itself.

Anna Pulsford, a park runner from Leicester, said: “It’s very poignant to meet someone who actually witnessed the crash. I’ve never been to Sheffield and I decided to come to this one because of the event that was happening.”

At 11am, the bugle played the Last Post at the Mi Amigo memorial, followed by the Lord’s Prayer, which was recited by Mr Foulds. 

Amy Priddy, of Arskansas, US, a distant relative of one of the men who died, made the trip to Sheffield for the first time to meet Mr Foulds and see the memorial.