Thousands of people gathered to watch a flypast in Sheffield to mark the 75th anniversary of a fatal crash that claimed the lives of 10 American airmen.
Huge crowds gathered to see a pensioner see his lifelong dream fulfilled of witnessing the special event.
Tony Foulds was just an eight-year-old schoolboy when he saw a B-17 Flying Fortress, nicknamed Mi Amigo, crash on February 22 in 1944.
The aircraft had apparently veered away from him and his friends in Sheffield’s Endcliffe Park as it returned from a bombing raid.
Mr Foulds, now 82, has been devoted to looking after the park’s memorial to the men, selflessly tending to it six days a week for decades.
Sheffield flypast: In Pictures
Friday morning saw a massive crowd gather in the park to watch planes including F-15E Strike Eagles from the USAF and an RAF Typhoon pay tribute to the crew.
As the names of the 10 airmen were read aloud at the memorial, Mr Foulds could not contain his emotion and broke down in tears.
He said: “If it hadn't of been for them, I wouldn't be here with my family It's more than bravery, what they did. They saved me, and I mean saved me."
The ceremony was arranged by BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker after he saw Mr Foulds walk in the park and started a campaign to have the men remembered.
Hundreds of people were in the park as dawn broke on Friday, with many bringing picnics and some wearing Second World War uniforms.
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Many veterans could be seen on the park wearing medals, and coffee stalls and sandwich vans were enjoying a brisk trade on the cold but clear morning.
Mr Foulds waved as the planes started to fly over, making his dream come true, years after the crash.
Shortly before the flypast started, he said: "This is not for me, it's for them - my lads.
"They're family, they are family to me."
The programme also showed footage of Mr Foulds meeting the families of some of the airmen who lost their lives in the crash 75 years ago.
Additional reporting by Press Association
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