(Come on, you flag-wavers - where are you when you're needed...?) Battle of Britain 75th anniversary flypast under way Six historic aircraft from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire are taking part in the flypast Aircraft, including Hurricanes and Spitfires, are due to fly over Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The planes belong to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) which is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. A specially painted Eurofighter Typhoon is also taking part in the flypast, due over London at 11:45 BST. The jet has been painted in the colours used at the time of the battle, which lasted from July to September 1940. 'Phenomenal aeroplanes' Squadron Leader Duncan Mason, from the BBMF, said: "When you think of the Battle of Britain it was one of those pivotal moments of history, it ranks up there with Trafalgar, Waterloo. "It's actually not just about the RAF but the resilience of the nation showed in the face of enormous adversity." Speaking about Spitfires and Hurricanes, he added: "They're both phenomenal aeroplanes. please log in to view this image Ten aircraft, including Typhoons and Hurricanes, are taking part "Of course everyone thinks of the Spitfire when they think of the Battle of Britain - they should also think of the Hurricane. "It got two thirds of the kills during the battle, it really was the workhorse… Ideally I'd like the same number of Hurricanes as I've got Spitfires but it's just not possible." Battle of Britain July to October 1940 1,023 aircraft lost by RAF 1,887 aircraft lost by Luftwaffe 3,000 aircrew served with RAF Fighter Command 20% were from the British Dominions and occupied European or neutral countries 544 RAF Fighter Command pilots were killed 2,500 Luftwaffe aircrew were killed Source: RAF The Battle of Britain was the German air force's attempt to gain air superiority over the RAF. Their ultimate failure was one of the turning points of the Second World War and prevented Germany from invading Britain. Six surviving pilots from the Battle of Britain will join the Queen at Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the World War Two air campaign. The battle lasted throughout the summer of 1940. It was the first major battle in history fought entirely in the air and was the first significant strategic defeat for the Nazis during World War Two.
"What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over ... the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour." W Churchill
Don't worry, Stan, the 76th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is next month so you'll have your own opportunity at some red flag-waving in honour of Comrade Stalin's top-class diplomacy.
http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...Park-preview/story-26871603-detail/story.html Flypast on veterans weekend too.. should be good.
the little skirmish over Kent, damn crabs just can't move on! Thank goodness for the Polish pilots and the Navy pilots that also took part as well as numerous other Nations.
Yeah, RAF always banging on about their past history and living in the past, shippers. Now pass the port please, it's fine, we're not on board, it won't spill just frigging pass it here, it can leave the table omfg!
