Blacksheep, absolutely agree about the BoB FAA Pilots, as mentioned by me elsewhere and alluded to in post #70 above.

FB. Ah, got your gist now. Wrong Mr C on my behalf. As to your point, you may well say that but I couldn't possibly comment, to paraphrase a card belonging to a certain house....

It's a beautiful evening in this part of the world and just down the road at RAF Leeming a Spitfire is due at 18:45 for a Battle Of Britain flypast , presumably a Mess Dinner ?
Other Spitfire flypasts due to take place this evening are ;
Wittering at 19:00
Waddington at 19:17
Coningsby at 19:24
and both Spitfires are from and returning to Coningsby . Sadly no Hurricane's up tonight but a 'full house' is expected at the Duxford Battle Of Britain Airshow over the coming weekend , and it's sold out !

My last BoB flypast whilst in the RAF was standing on the steps outside Dowding's office at Bentley Priory chatting to a VSO VIP, we shared the same enthusiasm and delight at the display...It reminded me of why I joined up all those many years ago.

81 Years ago the Royal Air Force fought and won a strategically important battle that meant the UK stayed in the war and could assure ultimate victory. If we had been invaded or been forced to sue for peace, Germany would likely have prevailed and ruled from the Atlantic to Siberia. We'll never know of course but the consequences of losing the battle are much clearer, and make the suffering and setbacks that followed before victory happened pale in comparison.

Happy Battle of Britain Day Royal Air Force!

Thank you!

Hear hear!

We remember them, not least Stuffy and Keith, who should share the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

BB, I whole heartedly agree.

Great idea, BB, you get my vote! Very appropriate that one hero who saved our country from possible subjugation should share his Square with two others who did so too, 135 years later

Could not agree more BB. Had those heroes not got it right we would all be speaking German now!

I had the pleasure (and honour) today to act as a tour guide to a party of PMRAFNS staff visiting Cosford. Of course, the Battle of Britain exhibition was a centrepiece. And I agree with BB

Have another uptick! Been saying that for years.....

I agree too.

Originally Posted by Barksdale Boy View Post
"We remember them, not least Stuffy and Keith, who should share the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square"
I can imagine one consequence,
An orchestrated screaming mob of the currently indoctrinated, packing the Square and pouring red paint over the statues whilst ranting on about Upper Class priviledged, racist , white male supremacist, colonialist etc.etc

During which the Police look on.........

Nelson and Hardy kissing might garner approval.

It's sad to think that we might never again see one of the BoB recreations which used to take place at Shoreham Air Show. I was present when the Hurricane went into the Downs below Lancing College - perhaps one of the last casualties, albeit indirect, of that conflict. Living nearby I often reflect on the astonishing coincidence of two Hawker aircraft crashing within a couple of hundred yards of each other.
I was fishing the river Arun below Pulborough a couple of weeks ago when a distinctive sound gradually developed. Travelling in a SE direction at fairly low altitude appeared a Hurricane and a Spitfire in close formation. Although I am not old enough to recall WW2 I attended school on Tangmere airfield and never forget what the RAF achieved on behalf of the nation, counter-factual speculation notwithstanding.

Slight thread drift alert!

I was staying with family in Cambridge some weeks ago and visited the American Cemetery with my young granddaughters. It is a remarkable place, laid out beautifully and amazingly (for our US cousins!) understated and tasteful. Whilst walking through the serried rows of the fallen, I was aware of an unmistakable sound - the sigh of a Merlin. Seconds later, a Spit (presumably from Duxford) appeared in the overhead, dipped a wing and departed.

Dust in the eyes.

Mog

Our cousins can be understated and tasteful. Believe me: I sleep with one every night - however she (gloriously) has her moments!

Over Westminster Abbey today.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....113ebb2fd.jpeg

No apologies for reposting this four year old thread. Little by little this anniversary of the Royal Air Force's greatest triumph slips below the radar (oh , I've just noticed what I did there), helped on its way by the revisionists that quote the enemy to justify their case. Had we not prevailed we would have been bombed into submission (or so it was hoped for in certain bunkers), invaded, and occupied. Instead of which we stayed in the fight, did that to the enemy instead, and provided the jumping off point for the greatest pincer movement in military history.

At this very sad time we might remind ourselves that amongst the eyes that followed this daily duel of con trails were those of two princesses at Windsor, who knew well what was at stake. Great to see HM the King proudly wearing the uniform of Marshal of the Royal Air Force at his mother's lying-in-state, as well as Sqn Ldr HRH the Prince of Wales also. As a friend of mine was once asked by an inspecting AOC, "Haven't you got another hat?". "Yes, Sir, but I keep that for best!".

Happy Battle of Britain Day, RAF.