'Forgotten' fighter ace honoured in Saffron Walden
A World War ll pilot who brought down 23 enemy aircraft has been honoured in the Essex town where he is buried.
Fl Lt Geoffrey "Sammy" Allard, born in York, received the Distinguished Flying Cross from King George VI but died in a crash on a routine flight in 1941.
He is buried with William Hodgson and Francis Smith also killed in the crash.
They are buried in Saffron Walden where a road was officially named Allard Way after a fly-past of Hurricane fighter aircraft which the three flew.
The flypast took place on Saturday.
The event was arranged by Chris Allard, Mr Allard's cousin once removed.
He said: "Sammy is in the top 10 Battle of Britain fighter pilots. These three did their bit but theirs is a forgotten story and it is quite a poignant one.
"The squadron was shattered by the crash. To lose them in one day and for it to be forgotten is quite sad."
A wreath will be laid at the men's graves on Sunday.