AMERICAN Air Force pilot Gale Ratliff is appealing to Free Press readers to help him track down his long lost British friends.

Mr Ratliff of Poplar Bluff in Missouri wrote to the Free Press in a desperate attempt to locate married couple Roy and Kathleen Yates who he met while serving in the US Air Force during the early 1960s.

He was stationed in Buckinghamshire and it was here that he struck up a firm friendship with the couple he is now very keen to find.

He has tried to make contact with them in various ways.

"I have tried to locate them many times over the years after losing contact and it is very important to me to rekindle our friendship.

Mr and Mrs Yates can write to Mr Ratliff at 114 East Harper Street, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 63901 - 4630. U.S.A.

Anyone with information can contact Memories Reporter Michelle Fleming on 01494 755151.