WWII glider crash victims remembered
Colonel Wuebold of the United States Air Force has today (12/12/2006) unveiled a new street sign at New Greenham Park, Newbury at a memorial service on the 62nd anniversary of a glider crash at the former airbase, which claimed the lives of 33 US servicemen.
Greenham Common Trust, the owner of New Greenham Park, has a policy of naming roads and properties on the business park after those who lost their lives in this tragedy. Colonel Wuebold, Commanding Officer of USAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, unveiled the new street sign for Jones Drive (formerly 5th Street) which is named in remembrance of Private Evan Bennett Jones.
Greenham Common Trust was contacted earlier in the year by Private Jones’ nephew, Ellis Jones III, who had hoped to be able to travel to Newbury to attend the memorial event. Speaking from his home in the USA he said: “The Jones family is extremely thankful that everyone involved is taking their time and resources to honour those that made the ultimate sacrifice to the free world. Sixty years is a long time, but we must never forget any of those that gave their life.”
Robin Hicks chairman of the Newbury Royal British Legion said: “It is an honour to remember the sacrifice that these young men made in the defence of freedom, dying under tragic circumstances, thousands of miles from their homes.”
The glider crash, which occurred at RAF Greenham Common on December 12, 1944, killed thirty-one 17th Airborne troopers and two glider pilots. The majority of the troopers were from C Company of the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment. The glider crashed shortly after taking off from the airbase, having lost both its wings.
Colonel P Wuebold and the mayors of Newbury and Thatcham unveil the new road sign.
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Revision Number: 0.2 Created: 12/12/2006 15:09:20 Modified: 12/12/2006 15:11:00