And rather like the tragic road crash which killed Princess Diana, Flight 777 has those who believe it was deliberately shot down because of the passengers aboard while others are convinced it was simply a terrible mistake.
The unveiling of a plaque tomorrow will mark the tragedy which happened exactly 67 years ago, in 1943.
Few people then knew that Whitchurch was the only airfield in Britain where civilian aircraft were allowed to take off and land.
Four times a week, a DC3 Dakota would make a round trip to Portela in Portugal, carrying military personnel, VIPs and other special passengers without fear of danger because both sides in the war respected the neutrality of countries which were not involved.
The Grand Hotel in Broad Street was used as the check-in desk for the outward bound journey and the passengers would be ferried out to the airfield in a coach with blacked-out windows.
Read Full Article »