Today, July 10, 2015, marks the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain. The anniversary was commemorated with a Flypast ceremony over Buckingham Palace that was observed by the Queen, the Duke Edinburgh, the Duke of Cambridge and the last six surviving pilots who flew during the Battle.
The vintage aircraft that commemorated the Battle’s anniversary were four Spitfires and two Hurricanes that are maintained by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
July 10th 1940 is generally regarded as the beginning of the Battle of Britain. It was on this date seventy-five years ago that the German Luftwaffe launched a series of attacks on shipping convoys off the coast of south-east England. The RAF took to the air and shot down 14 enemy planes on that day and damaged another 23. It would be the start of a deadly contest.
I am honored that among the crowd today was my daughter, Katie, who is attending university at Goldsmiths in London as well as Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC, who served in the Battle and authored the introduction for my book, “What the RAF Airman Took to War.”