Firemen received high praise after helping at the scene of an air crash.

Reader William Law has copies of two letters sent to the fire chief at Faringdon by the United States Air Force.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, June 12), the US B47 bomber crashed at Radcot Lock on the River Thames on July 20, 1954.

The crash happened soon after the plane took off from nearby RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Three crew members were on board one was killed and the others slightly injured.

The letters were sent to Sub-Officer Sid Taylor, the officer in charge of Faringdon fire station, which was then in Berkshire.

One letter, signed by Col- onel Kenneth D Thompson, based at Fairford, read: "I want to thank you and your well-trained brigade for the excellent job you did in combating the fire after our B47 crashed near your headquarters recently.

"The work that was done by your crews, in saving the remains of this aircraft, aided materially the investigation that followed.

"I have had comments made to me by my fire officials and air police, all commenting on your excellent work.

"They have stated that your team work was excellent and that a better job could not have been done.

"In closing, let me restate to each individual of your unit that I am appreciative of the efforts that were expended."

The other letter, signed by Colonel WM van Sickle, based at Brize Norton, said: "I wish to express my sincere gratitude for your cooperation on the occasion of a crash of a USAF aircraft near this station. Your prompt response and assistance in meeting this emergency is greatly appreciated."

Mr Law, of Marines Drive, Faringdon, has sent in pictures of Sub-Officer Taylor and of a fire appliance and crew.

He writes: "I believe the fire appliance was issued to Faringdon Fire Station in 1954 and may well have been the appliance attending the B47 crash."