Salute for hero pilot
More than 500 people gathered to remember a US pilot who died steering his floundering fighter plane away from Stafford during World War Two.
Ace pilot Captain John Perrin was just 25 when his aircraft crashed into fields in Creswell on July 4, 1944.
The brave airman refused to eject and save himself to ensure the plane did not hit the town, Creswell village or the local primary school.
A six-and-a-half tonne, 6ft memorial, including a graphic plaque and an inscribed slate telling his story, now stands at land off Mustang Drive, next to Culina Logistics at the ProLogis Park at Primepoint 14.
Among those attending the ceremony were members of the Perrin family, who travelled over from America, the RAF Cosford military band, local dignitaries, schoolchildren, members of the parish council and local people.
Another VIP guest was Stanley Jones, an eyewitness to the crash 63 years ago, who also travelled over from his new home in the US and had been campaigning, along with the parish council, for a permanent memorial at the crash site.
Vice Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Colonel Michael Beatty and Assistant Air Attache to the US Embassy Lieutenant-Colonel Jeff unveiled the memorial, and silence fell on the group as a lone bugler, Staff Sgt Shane Kibbey of the United States Air Force in Europe, played Taps, the traditional tribute to fallen US servicemen
The remembrance service was completed by a flyover and aerial display by a P-51 Mustang, similar to that flown by Captain Perrin.
Helen Perrin, of Texas, whose late husband was Captain Perrin's cousin, was at the event yesterday.
She said: "The heroes we had growing up during World War Two were politicians and soldiers, people like Jack who in a split second decided to give his own life to save the town.
"Courage and sacrifice were the ideal. We're all proud of him."
