Base Air Depot No. 2 at Warton, England, was established under the 8th Air Force Service Command on September 5, 1942, to modify and repair military aircraft, adapting warplanes arriving from the United States for the European Theater of Operations, rebuilding battle-damaged planes, and using a ferrying squadron to bring aircraft from their original landing fields to Warton and then deliver them to combat units. By summer 1944, 10,000 Americans were working there around the clock. On August 23, 1944, two recently repaired B-24 Liberator bombers were on test flights when warning came from Brig. Gen. Isaac Ott's headquarters of an impending storm and all planes were ordered to land immediately. The pilots tried to land, but the storm was too intense. Witnesses saw the plane piloted by Lt. John Bloemendal struck by lightning before it crashed into a school in the village of Freckleton. Sixty one persons died, including 38 five-year-old children trapped in the nursery classroom. The second plane was forced almost to the ground and flew ten miles at treetop level before escaping the storm. Five children were pulled from the burning classroom, but two died in the Base Hospital. At the time, this was the second worst crash in aviation history. Twenty nine Wartoneers gave their lives for their country, and those who died in the Freckleton school crash and other Americans killed at Warton are named.