A SERVICE of remembrance and tribute took place this morning at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Bulphan, commemorating the loss of 20 American airmen over the village in World War II.

On September 26, 1943, two United States Army Air Force B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers, the "Dorsal Queen" and "Raunchy Wolf," collided in mid-air over Bulphan during a mission returning from France. 

The collision occurred in poor weather, resulting in both planes crashing and exploding, killing 20 of the 21 airmen on board.

The sole survivor was the tail gunner of the "Dorsal Queen".

The two aircraft were returning from Rheims-Champaigne, where all objectives were too overcast for effective bombing.

With no bombs dropped, both aircraft were fully laden with bombs and incendiaries.

They were on their way home to Great Ashfield Aerodrome in Suffolk when, at six to eight thousand feet above Brentwood, pilots encountered severe windshield icing which hampered their vision and they collided.

View the service and wreath-laying:-

During the service Janet McCheyne read her late mother's memories of the crash, which included the sole survivor, John Adams, knocking on the door of her family home.

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Staff Sgt Adams returned to the States after the crash and lived until 1977.

The service was conducted by Rev Clive Russell and featured a reading of the Royal British Legion exhortation by 100-year-old Jim Gooding, himself a veteran of the war, having flown 14 missions as a tail gunner on Lancasters based at Mildenhall, where the USAF still operate.

Deputy Lieutenant of Essex Jeremy Finnis led the wreath-laying and an address was given by Cllr Jay Laplain, Mayor of Brentwood.