A PLAQUE was unveiled at a Pershore pub on Tuesday to men who died in a plane crash more than half a century ago.

The plaque, which is on display on the wall outside The Brandy Cask, was to commemorate the lives of five airmen who were killed when a fly-past went tragically wrong.

Flying officer G S Hynam, Sgt Peter Zoeller, Cpl Allen and aircraftmen Bande and Garvell were in a Wellington X3704 Bomber, piloted by Hynam, during a 'Wings for Victory' fly-past in Pershore in 1943, when the plane lost a wing and an engine, due to metal fatigue and crashed into land behind the pub in Bridge Street.

Legend has it the landlady of the pub was also injured when tiles from the roof fell on her while she was having a bath.

Officer Hynam and Sgt Zoeller are buried in Pershore Cemetery.

Spencer Cooper, landlord of the Brandy Cask, said: "It's nice for the town to give some recognition to a bit of history that has been one of the major events in the town in the last century."