Two Suffolk air disasters were recognised yesterday during a dedication ceremony.

Two plaques were unveiled in the village of Westhall, near Halesworth, to recognise two plane crashes in the village during the Second World War.

On June 25 1944, a B-24 Liberator had a problem with its engines and was making its way to Holton Airfield in order to land.

When it was coming in over the village it clipped a tree in the garden of Mill House. Out of 10 people on board, only two survived.

The following year, on March 24, another plane carrying nine people on board crashed in the village. Only the pilot and co-pilot survived. Everyone that died was American.

David White, who organised the event as part of the Community Council with Halesworth Airfield Museum, was at the event and said: “It was excellent. At least 100 people turned up.

“We had a service out on the street and a dedication, and then a fly past from a Mustang.

“We also had the honour guard from Lakenheath.

“We didn’t know what number to expect.

“It was way beyond our wildest dreams.”