CAIRO – 3 February 2018:It was a tragedy that is remembered not only in England; British Airways’ flight 609 aircraft crashed when starting at Riem airport in Munich 60 years ago.
On the evening of February 6, 1958, 23 out of 44 passengers died in the burning wreck, including eight footballers from Manchester United.
Sixty years later, on February 5, an association of former players, relatives and fans come to Munich.
In a memorial move at the Memorial Site in Truderingof Munich, fans of Manchester United come to Memorial Day in Munich tocommemorate the tragedy.
The plane crash of February 6, 1958 has remained indelibly in the memory of the world and English football supporters.
The Busby Babes' final line-up before tragic plane crash on February 6 - Courtesy of The Sun newspaper
In England, Riem's misfortune is known as the "Munich Air Disaster". The charter plane crashed after a failed start near Munich Airport, where it had landed for a stopover.
Manchester United’s delegation was coming from Belgrade heading to Manchester.
The travelling squad of Manchester United - Courtesy of The Sun newspaper
The passengers were the football team of Manchester United, who had played the second leg of the European Cup match at Red Star Belgrade which ended 3-3, (the first leg was 2-1 for Manchester).
Because the machine could not amass a fast enough speed for a safe start, it did not takeoff at the end of the runway.
It broke through a fence and headed for an inhabited area in Trudering. A wing collided with a dwelling near the airport at a speed of almost 200 kilometers per hour.
The wreckage Manchester United's plane following crash in Munich in 1958 - Courtesy of The Sun newspaper
The machine was torn apart; one part collided with a barrel containing gasoline.The result was a devastating explosion in which several accident victims lost their lives.
The 20-year-old Bobby Charlton, who was to become world champion eight years later, narrowly survived. Due to the already highly praised medical care, Munich physicians succeeded in saving 21 lives.
This is one of Munich Riem Airport’s most tragic stories. It's already been 20 years since the last jet took off there. In May 1992, the new Munich Airport opened in Erdinger Moos and the Truderinger and Riemer finally returned peace.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 3, 2018 General view of tributes outside the stadium for Munich Air Disaster anniversary before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Now, the district committee (BA) has encouraged 15 Trudering-Riem to attach German and English-language signs explaining what happened there.
The BA request has already been met by the City of Munich. In Trudering, not far from the Riemer Park, there is a memorial stone placed since 2004 exactly where the aircraft catastrophe took place.
The stone has Manchester United members’ names inscribed on it. It shows a football field with the names of all the victims. Bayern also supported the memorial. Every year fans make a pilgrimage to this crash site and lay down wreaths.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 3, 2018 General view of tributes outside the stadium for Munich Air Disaster anniversary before the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Here are the names of the victims and the survivors:
Victims:
Crew members
1- Captain Kenneth "Ken" Rayment. Co-pilot. [Survived but suffered multiple injuries and died in the hospital three weeks later as a result of brain damage.]
2- Tom Cable, cabin steward
Manchester United players
3- Geoff Bent
4- Roger Byrne
5- Eddie Colman
6- Duncan Edwards [survived the crash, but died in the hospital 15 days later]
7- Mark Jones
8- David Pegg
9- Tommy Taylor
10- Liam "Billy" Whelan
Manchester United staff
11- Walter Crickmer, club secretary
12- Tom Curry, trainer
13- Bert Whalley, chief coach
Journalists
14- Alf Clarke, Manchester Evening Chronicle
15- Donny Davies, Manchester Guardian
16- George Follows, Daily Herald
17- Tom Jackson, Manchester Evening News
18- Archie Ledbrooke, Daily Mirror
19- Henry Rose, Daily Express
20- Frank Swift, News of the World [also former England and Manchester City goalkeeper; died on his way to hospital]
21- Eric Thompson, Daily Mail
Other passengers
22- Bela Miklos, travel agent
23- Willie Satinoff, supporter, racecourse owner and close friend of Matt Busby
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 3, 2018 General view of tributes outside the stadium for Munich Air Disaster anniversary before the match REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Survivors
Crew
1- Margaret Bellis, stewardess (died 1998)
2- Rosemary Cheverton, stewardess
3- George William "Bill" Rodgers, radio officer (died 1997)
4- Captain James Thain, pilot (died 1975)
Manchester United players
5- Johnny Berry (never played again, died 1994)
6- Jackie Blanchflower (never played again, died 1998)
7- Bobby Charlton
8- Bill Foulkes (died 2013)
9- Harry Gregg
10- Kenny Morgans (died 2012)
11- Albert Scanlon (died 2009)
12- Dennis Viollet (died 1999)
13- Ray Wood (died 2002)
Manchester United staff
14- Matt Busby, manager (died 1994)
Journalists and photographers
15- Ted Ellyard, Daily Mail telegraphist (died 1964)
16- Peter Howard, Daily Mail photographer (died 1996)
17- Frank Taylor, News Chronicle reporter (died 2002)
Other passengers
18- Vera Lukić, the wife of a Yugoslavian diplomat, and her baby daughter, Vesna. Both passengers were saved by Harry Gregg. At the time, Vera Lukić was pregnant with her son Zoran.
19- Eleanor Miklos, wife of Bela Miklos
20- NebojšaBatoTomašević, Yugoslavian diplomat (died 2017)
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