15 Sep 2015

Battle of Britain: 75th anniversary commemorated

More Battle of Britain aircraft have been brought together than at any time since the Second World War to mark the time the country fought alone against Nazism.

Prince Harry, who celebrates his 31st birthday today, will join a flypast after a service at St Paul’s Cathedral organised by the RAF to commemorate the events of 1940.

Around 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheim bombers will fly in formation from Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex before dispersing across wartime airfields over the south of England.

The first decisive battle fought entirely in the skies prevented Hitler’s Germany from establishing air superiority over Britain in the run-up to an invasion.

‘Finest hour’

As a result of German losses, plans for an invasion were abandoned, with Winston Churchill describing the victory over the Luftwaffe as Britain’s “finest hour” and allied pilots as “the few” who would forever be owed a debt of gratitude.

During the summer and autumn of 1940, 544 personnel from Fighter Command died as the RAF fought in the skies above southern England.

The 75th anniversary is likely to be the last major one at which the men who fought – now all aged in their 90s – will be fit to take part.

Symbol

Tom Neil, 95, an ex-wing commander and Battle of Britain pilot, will lead the formation from the rear of a two-seater Spitfire – the symbol of Britain’s fight against Nazism.

The event has been organised by the Boultbee Flight Academy, based in Chichester, and two of the aircraft – a Spitfire and a Hurricane – fought in the famous battle.

When Prince Harry met pilots last year who were training for the event he flew in a two-seater Spitfire and took the controls.

A former para and RAF corporal will also take part in the event after winning places on a Spitfire scholarship training programme for wounded servicemen and women and veterans.

Nathan Forster, a former private in the Parachute Regiment, from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, suffered severe damage to his left leg in an IED blast while on patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2011.

Corporal Alan Robinson, an RAF aircraft technician, from Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, lost a leg in a motorbike accident.