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Manchester United 1958-Part 2 of 3

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Manchester United 1958 part 2 of 3
by Robert (Bob) Moore © 2015

the wing tore off when it hit the house, the tail was hanging free
the fuselage hit a wooden hut, and the cockpit hit a tree,
the house caught fire, and people ran, but Murphy’s Law the rule
inside the hut the plane had hit, a truck full of tyres and fuel

the truck exploded, in a sheet of flame, and added more confusion
Thain saw the flames around the plane, and he had no illusion
he was sure it would explode, and told his crew to run
then saw flames below the wing and knew what needed to be done

the co-pilot, trapped in his seat, said to leave him there
Thain said he would come back for him, when he had time to spare
then grabbed 2 hand held extinguishers to help him fight the fire
he knew the wing was full of fuel, the outcome would be dire

That day saw many heroes, who were ordinary men
Harry Gregg the Goalie was just one of them
The Captain had decided to make the run again
but many were poor flyers, and were talked aboard the plane

As we started down the runway, I began to feel real scared
and I realised how quiet it was the lads just sat and stared
as I looked out the window, a house and tree went by
then everything just went real black, and sparks began to fly

The plane went on its side, sort of upside down
There was only silence, and blackness all around
then for a second daylight, I thought that I was dead
and I just sat there quietly, strange thoughts in my head

I thought “I’ve had a great life, and a lovely family too
if this should be the end of it they’ll know just what to do
It was then I realised, that I was still alive
I unclipped my seat belt, and kicked my way outside

The first I saw was Captain Thain, extinguisher in hand
five others running toward us, to help us if they can
“it’s going to blow, you’d better run”, he yelled with all his might
and so we turned to run away, towards the airport light

As I turned I heard a sound, a child was crying near
I yelled, there’s a kid alive inside, but they didn’t hear
I went back into the plane, I was terrified 
afraid of just what I might find, in the smashed and wrecked inside

I found the little baby, and started to carry her out
the radio man was running by, so I gave him a shout
take the baby off to safety, and I’ll go back inside
to try and find her mother, if she is still alive

she was in a bad condition, but I did what I could do
I kicked a hole in the fuselage, and then I pushed her through
then I found Albert Scanlon, but he seemed badly hurt,
trapped by his feet, he would not move, though I tugged on his shirt

Peter Howard of the Daily Mail, was in the other seat
I’ll stay and keep him company, I’m sure that we’ll be sweet 
some rescuers will be here soon, just you wait and see
and I know, it won’t be long before they set us free

I then found Dennis Violet and Bobby Charlton too, 
lying very still, I wasn’t sure what I should do
I really thought that they were dead, and dragged their bodies out
I was looking for Jackie Blanchflower, and his name I began to shout

as I searched for Jackie, I saw the tail end of the plane
I watched in disbelief it was ablaze with sheets of flame
the thoughts were of the lads who moved there, just before the run 
Frank Swift and Duncan Edwards, Dudleys favourite son,

they thought it would be safer, just a feeling in their bones
and with them Tommy Taylor, Eddie Coleman and Mark Jones
it was then I saw Matt Busby, he held his chest in pain
 “my legs, my legs” he cried out, and could not move again

Continued: in part three

Copyright © Robert J Moore | Year Posted 2016

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