On 13th April 1944, Lt Bill Johnson, USAAF, was piloting a damaged B-17 Superfortress Bomber on its return from a bombing raid in Augsburg, Southern Germany. Over France, the aircraft was hit by enemy flack. Losing altitude, Lt. Johnson ordered his crew to bail out over Hythe. Whilst flying over Romney Marsh, he realised that the plane would probably crash into the village of Hamstreet, with likely catastrophic loss of life. He decided to put his aircraft into a deliberate nose-dive, knowing that this action would more than likely result in his own death.On the 81st anniversary of this event, Rector Geoff, assisted by local branch members of the Royal British Legion, and in the presence of local villagers and the Johnson Corner Memorial Association, led a simple Act of Remembrance, in gratitude and respect for this brave act of self-sacrifice made by this young American pilot.'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' Jn 15.13 (KJV)
