This weekend, a series of commemorative events will take place in Isleham to remember the 12 USAF and RAF crew who gave their lives, 75 years ago, to prevent large scale destruction of the village.

On Saturday October 12, local historian Stewart Evans will present a talk on the tragic events that unfolded one foggy morning on 13th October 1949 when a B-50 Superfortress took off from RAF Lakenheath airbase, fully loaded with 16 x 500lb bombs, and crash landed soon after.

The talk is free to all and will start at 3pm at The Beeches Community Centre in Isleham.

This will be followed on Sunday October 13 with a Remembrance Service at 3pm, in St Andrew’s church in Isleham. The service will include memoirs and wreath laying.

Mark Fletcher, chair of the Isleham Society Heritage Group, said: “This tragic event is a key part of Isleham’s rich village history and our community will forever be indebted to the brave crew.

“On encountering difficulties with their aircraft, they took the courageous decision to remain on board in order to steer it away from the centre of the village, thus avoiding what would undoubtedly have been a huge loss of lives.

Richard Radcliffe, chair of Isleham Parish Council, said: “We are so very pleased to welcome senior representatives from USAF, the RAF, local and regional councils, and relatives of the aircrew who lost their lives to take part in this Remembrance Service.

“This tragedy has shaped the lives of so many families and we hope that future generations will continue to honour their memory.”

The B-50 Superfortress (at the time the world’s largest aircraft) took off from nearby Lakenheath airbase, loaded with 16 x 500lb bombs.

Shortly after take-off it ran into trouble - its engines spluttered above Isleham village and residents ran for cover when the plane that (according to reports) was on fire and with a wing hanging off, passed overhead.

It eventually crashed and exploded just at the edge of the village, close to where the Ark church sits today.

The huge explosion was felt for around 15 miles.

A commemorative plaque detailing the names of the crew who gave their lives, was unveiled in 2020 at The Beeches Community Centre.