B17 75th Anniversary Kent

Following the event on Canvey Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the B17 collision some of our guests visited the site near to where the Kent plane crashed at Allhallows. They had been invited to the unveiling of a memorial plaque remembering the crew of the fated plane that lost all but one of their men that day.

Indeed Noel Toganazzini, who sent me these photos and Jeanne Cronis Campbell were there to unveil the plaque. Noel’s uncle Cecil died and is the only one from the Kent plane who is still missing. Jeanne’s father Theo Chronolopolis was the only one to survive. 

Noel said in his email:-

The Allhallows event surprised me because it was remarkably well attended probably because of the timing (a Saturday), the weather (sunny/warm), and the family “attractions” – a community band, booths from the local history museum, a troop of air cadets, many uniformed reenactment actors, and even a display of radio controlled aircraft. Definitely organized as more akin to a community event than the more somber commemoration at Canvey. Both have their place — and I was delighted to attend both — sort of like going to church Wednesday, and going to the church picnic on Saturday. But what is most important is that the memory of that fateful day is now recognized on both shores of the Thames by more and more people as a reminder of the personal costs of our freedom, and the friendships started by each of our journeys were nourished and new friendships were created.