A plaque has been unveiled in memory of two airmen who diverted a burning Halifax bomber away from the town of Wallingford.

On September 9, 1944, Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, Flying Officer John Archibald Wilding and Flight Sergeant John Frank Andrew, were returning from a raid in France when the engine of their Halifax bomber caught fire and exploded over Wallingford.

Aware the plane was still laden with a full load of bombs, 23-year-old pilot Wilding ordered his men to jump out while he and 22-year-old Andrew turned it away from the town centre.

READ MORE: Wallingford remembers brave airmen

They crashed into fields at Newnham Murren, on the Crowmarsh Gifford side of the river.

(Image: David Harrison) Now a plaque in memory of the two airmen has been unveiled at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln.

Wallingford town mayor Dan Beauchamp travelled to Lincoln for the ceremony, with Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Lynda Atkins, and they were joined by a representative from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Mr Beauchamp said: "I was delighted to take part in this special commemoration.

"It's 80 years since these airmen acted so bravely to save the people of Wallingford and we don't want this to be forgotten."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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