A SPECIAL day was held to commemorate a Second World War plane crash in Essex.

The event took place in Shalford, near Braintree, and was held in memory of those involved in the incident, including Staff Sergeant Harold Norris who died.

On August 4, 1944, a Flying Fortress called Dry Gulcher and her crew came down on fields behind Shalford Church shortly after taking off fully laden.

All the crew apart from tail-gunner Harold Norris made a successful parachute landing.

The plane exploded as it crashed and the blast damaged Shalford Hall.

The aircraft had been based at Ridgewell Aerodrome with the 532nd Bomb Squadron, part of the 381st Bomb Group.

In 2008 a memorial was put up in Shalford.

Braintree and Witham Times: The memorial of the Dry Gulcher and its crew (Picture: Garry Mills and John Smith)The memorial of the Dry Gulcher and its crew (Picture: Garry Mills and John Smith) (Image: Garry Mills and John Smith)

The Shalford Local History Association held the memorial event, with a special visitor from Texas - Dr Vernon L Williams, of the Old Primero Historical Foundation.

The Harold F Norris Award is the newest award created by the foundation to honour civilians who provided significant contributions or acts of selfless service in support of American military units and airmen serving in the Second World War.

The award is named after Harold Norris - Dr Williams' uncle.

The service was led by Rev Alex Shannon and was attended by members of the Shalford Local History Association, family members of those that helped the surviving airmen, Shalford schoolchildren and residents, members of the British Legion, Paul Bingley from Ridgewell Museum, and Ross Stewart, the curator and creator of Wethersfield Airfield Museum.

Braintree and Witham Times: Shalford schoolchildren during the memorial service (Picture: Garry Mills and John Smith)Shalford schoolchildren during the memorial service (Picture: Garry Mills and John Smith) (Image: Garry Mills and John Smith)

The service included personal details of those on the plane and what happened to them immediately after the crash, read out by Shalford schoolchildren.

This was followed by poems, the laying of wreaths, and prayers. In the evening Dr Williams presented awards posthumously to three families.

Braintree and Witham Times: Dr Williams presents the evening's events (Pic: Garry Mills and John Smith)Dr Williams presents the evening's events (Pic: Garry Mills and John Smith) (Image: Garry Mills and John Smith)

Afterwards, a film titled Dry Gulcher Down: A B-17's Fiery End Over Shalford Village was premiered.

A spokesman said: “Thanks to Dr Williams for personally coming from Texas to commemorate and remember his uncle and others in the dark days of World War II, and a thank you to everyone involved in making this day so memorable.”