Reigate Hill service

Some of our Coalition members, Yasmin, our Involvement Lead and Nikki, our CEO, were invited to a service to commemorate eighty years since nine airmen lost their lives in a bomber crash in Reigate, Surrey.

An American Air Force B-17G flying fortress bomber crashed during bad weather in Reigate while returning from a mission over Germany on 19 March 1945. The aircraft flew in over Reigate, it flew very low over a bus queue (the bus stop is still there today) and disappeared into the clouds. At 5.42pm there was a huge crash and then silence.   

Sadly the impact was so severe that all nine men died on impact. 

The crash site is now marked by a pair of wing tips. Sculptor Roger Day completed the memorial on the North Downs Way for the 70th anniversary of the crash. It replicates the size of the destroyed aircraft and includes fuselage aluminium from the crash.

The service was held at the crash site at the top of Reigate Hill, there is still a gap in the trees on the skyline where the aircraft crashed. 9 lanterns were lit for each of the men and wreaths were laid for each of them. It was a beautiful tribute to these 9 young men.