617 Squadron Aircrew - Derwent Valley
10.1 miles away
Derbyshire
Sheffield "Mi Amigo" Memorial
Sheffield, Endcliffe Park (Mi Amigo Memorial), South Yorkshire
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
This grove of 10 scarlet oak trees; pair of memorial plaques on large boulder was dedicated on 30/11/1969. Mi Amigo memorial in Endcliffe Park, maintained by Sheffield City Council. Annual flyover ceremony.
Type
Grove of 10 scarlet oak trees; pair of memorial plaques on large boulder
Dedication Date
30/11/1969
Inscription
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LocationVerified Location
Sheffield, Endcliffe Park (Mi Amigo Memorial), South Yorkshire, South Yorkshire
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What Happened
On 22 February 1944, the B-17 Flying Fortress "Mi Amigo" was returning from a bombing mission over Aalborg, Denmark, having been severely damaged by Luftwaffe fighters en route. With engines failing and the aircraft barely controllable, First Lieutenant Kriegshauser nursed the crippled bomber across the North Sea and over the English coast. By the time the B-17 reached Sheffield, at around 5pm, it was clear the aircraft could not reach any airfield. Kriegshauser prepared for a crash landing and began his final approach towards open ground. Then he saw them: a large group of children playing in Endcliffe Park below. Without hesitation, Kriegshauser aborted the landing, hauling the dying aircraft over the park and into the trees beyond. All ten crew members were killed in the resulting crash. The children were saved. Their sacrifice -- choosing certain death over the risk of killing children -- has made the Mi Amigo one of the most emotionally powerful war memorial stories in Britain.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
Do you know of any commemorative events or annual services held at this memorial? We would love to hear from local communities who remember.
Share remembrance informationAircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
B-17 Flying Fortress 42-31322 "Mi Amigo"
Squadron
364th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomb Group
Station
Chelveston (USAAF)
Date of Loss
1944-02-22
Operation Type
Operational
Target
Returning from bombing mission over Aalborg, Denmark
Cause of Loss
Heavily damaged by enemy fighters over Denmark; engines failing; pilot aborted landing approach to avoid children playing in park
Crew (11 members)
About the Crew
1st Lt John Glennon Kriegshauser(age 23)Pilot
From Missouri, USA
Killed when the B-17 crashed into trees beyond Endcliffe Park after he deliberately overflew the park to avoid children playing below.
From Missouri, aged 23. Demonstrated extraordinary heroism in his final moments, choosing certain death to save the children of Sheffield.
2nd Lt Lyle J. CurtisCo-Pilot
From Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Idaho Falls, Idaho.
2nd Lt John W. HumphreyNavigator
From Wyoming, Illinois, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Wyoming, Illinois.
2nd Lt Melchor HernandezBombardier
From Los Angeles, California, USA
Killed in the crash. Had been unable to release bombs over Aalborg due to cloud cover; the bombs were jettisoned over the North Sea on the return.
From Los Angeles, California.
T/Sgt George M. WilliamsWaist Gunner
From Faxon, Oklahoma, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Faxon, Oklahoma.
S/Sgt Harry W. EstabrooksFlight Engineer/Top Turret
From Mound Valley, Kansas, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Mound Valley, Kansas.
S/Sgt Robert E. MayfieldRadio Operator
From Raymond, Illinois, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Raymond, Illinois.
Sgt Charles H. TuttleBall Turret Gunner
From Raceland, Kentucky, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Raceland, Kentucky.
Sgt Vito R. AmbrosioWaist Gunner
From Brooklyn, New York, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Brooklyn, New York.
Sgt Maurice D. RobbinsTail Gunner
From Manor, Texas, USA
Killed in the crash at Endcliffe Park.
From Manor, Texas.
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Sheffield City Council
Mi Amigo memorial in Endcliffe Park, maintained by Sheffield City Council. Annual flyover ceremony.
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Sheffield Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Sheffield City Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
WikipediaRetrieved 2026-03-23
Wikipedia article on the Mi Amigo memorial at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield. Documents the full history from the 1944 crash through to Tony Foulds' decades-long maintenance of the memorial and the viral 2019 BBC story that led to a joint USAF/RAF flypast.
What you'll find: Explore the captivating history of Sheffield's "Mi Amigo" Memorial on Wikipedia.
Tony Foulds maintained memorial for decades after witnessing crash as a child2019 flypast organised after BBC story went viralOne of Britain's most well-known WWII crash memorials
American Air Museum in BritainRetrieved 2026-03-23
American Air Museum archive entry for B-17G 42-31322 'Mi Amigo' of the 305th Bomb Group. Provides aircraft service history and loss details with crew records.
What you'll find: Explore the detailed service history and crew records of the American Air Museum's B-17G "Mi Amigo" from the 305th Bomb Group.
Aircraft archive with full service historyCrew personnel records linked
Imperial War MuseumsRetrieved 2026-03-23
IWM War Memorials Register entry for the B-17 'Mi Amigo' 42-31322 memorial of the 305th Bomb Group USAAF.
What you'll find: Explore Sheffield's "Mi Amigo" Memorial honoring the fallen USAAF bomber crew from the 305th Bomb Group.
IWM memorial reference 27509Registered as 305th Bomb Group memorial
TracesOfWar.comRetrieved 2026-03-23
International memorial database entry for the Mi Amigo crash memorial.
What you'll find: Explore the international memorial database entry for the Sheffield "Mi Amigo" crash memorial at TracesOfWar.com.
Listed in international TracesOfWar database
aircrashsites.co.ukRetrieved 2026-03-23
Detailed crash site page with narrative of the Mi Amigo's final flight. Bombardier 2nd Lt Hernandez was unable to release bombs due to cloud obscuring the target over Aalborg, and the bombs were jettisoned over the North Sea as the B-17 limped home.
What you'll find: Explore Sheffield "Mi Amigo" Memorial: Detailed narrative of its final flight at aircrashsites.co.uk.
Bombs jettisoned over North SeaTarget obscured by cloudAircraft pursued by enemy fighters
Key AeroRetrieved 2026-03-23
Coverage of the USAF flypast over Sheffield marking the 80th anniversary of the B-17 crash in 2024.
What you'll find: Witness USAF flypast honoring Sheffield's 80th anniversary B-17 crash memorial service.
80th anniversary USAF flypast in 2024Ongoing annual commemorations
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-03-23)
American Air Museum in Britain (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Imperial War Museums (retrieved 2026-03-23)
TracesOfWar.com (retrieved 2026-03-23)
aircrashsites.co.uk (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Key Aero (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Wikipedia - Mi Amigo Memorial (website)
War Memorials Online - Memorial 131121 (website)
American Air Museum - 42-31322 (website)
IWM Memorial 27509 (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
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