Freckleton Air Disaster TV documentary marks 80 years since plane crash killed 61 in Lancashire village

In an exclusive half hour TV programme, Shots! TV looks back at one of Lancashire’s biggest historic tragedies, when an American bomber plane crashed into an infant school during a freak storm, on August 23, 1944.

Where can I watch the Freckleton Air Disaster documentary?

Watch Freckleton Air Disaster: 80 Years On - The Documentary on Shots! TV.

The documentary will also be aired on Shots! TV on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October 2024 at 9AM (GMT). Watch on Freeview channel 262 (previously 267) and Freely channel 565.

‘It all went very dark’

80 years on from the disaster, Lucinda Herbert meets with the two only remaining survivors from the infant school - Ruby Currell and David Madden, who remember the incident with shocking detail. Both now in their 80’s, the pair recall the moments when ‘it all went very dark’ and ‘very noisy’...but reflect on the reasons they think they may have survived the terrible incident.

Boy ran through flaming doorway

“I just wanted to go outside, so I ran,” recalls Mr Madden, who had to run through a flaming doorway to leave the burning building. Meanwhile, Mrs Currell explains that she ‘hid under a desk’, until she was rescued.

Collective heartache

Angela Procter wasn’t born when tragedy struck the village, yet she tells Shots! TV why it has always been firmly in her thoughts. Among the victims was Georgina Lonsdale, the four-year-old elder sister Angela never knew. Angela was born early in 1945, but the tale of the sister she lost and the lasting mark the tragedy left on the village have been clear memories for her for as long as she can remember. Now she has written a book about her family’s experiences, called Children Of The Storm.

The documentary reflects on the past 80 years, and how the people of Freckleton came together to overcome their heartache, and also forged life-long friendships with the USA Air Force personnel who did everything they could to re-build the village.

In the programme, Shots! TV also attend an emotive memorial service, held at the Holy Trinity Church in Freckleton, where a beautiful tribute took place in memory of the 61 people who perished in the disaster.

Documentary weekend on Shots! TV

Watch The Freckleton Air Disaster: 80 Years On - The Documentary on Shots! TV, on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October 2024 at 9AM (GMT), as part of a documentary special weekend. It is available on Freeview channel 262 (Previously 267) and Freely channel 565.