Posted on 09/17/2007 3:42:31 PM PDT by Rikstir
As the sun shone across London this weekend a number of events were taking place to commemorate the Battle of Britain, veterans standing shoulder to shoulder with serving military figures and civilians to remember their comrades who battled so doggedly for their country during the summer of 1940 and throughout World War II.
A permanent reminder of the debt owed to 'The Few' was revealed on Saturday 15 September 2007 in Westminster when the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Fighter Association unveiled the Battle of Britain Heritage Walk. The 45 minute walk links five sites of significance to the Battle of Britain - St Clement Danes (The Central Church of the Royal Air Force), the Royal Air Force Memorial on Victoria Embankment, the new Battle of Britain Monument, the Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and the Royal Air Force Chapel in Westminster Abbey - and stretches from the Central Church of the RAF, St Clement Danes, to Westminster Abbey. The walk was established in order to remember the Battle and the selfless sacrifice made by hundreds of aircrew.
Witnessed by over a dozen Battle of Britain pilots, Air Commodore George Baber, representing the Chief of the Air Staff, formally presented a privately donated bronze plaque showing all the points of interest on the walk to the Chairman of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, Air Commodore Peter Brothers (Retd). Air Commodore Brothers was a Flight Commander on two Hurricane squadrons during the Battle of Britain. He has received various awards and honours including the Distinguished Flying Cross:
"I am honoured and delighted to launch the walk on Battle of Britain Day," Air Cdre Brothers said. "Whilst our members were in the forefront of the Battle of Britain in 1940 it must be remembered we were part of a team and only able to succeed with the support of so many people from ground crew to anti-aircraft gunners to name but a few.
"I must congratulate the Royal Air Force for masterminding this initiative and Westminster City Council for its support. I am sure that this walk will ensure that the decisive victory in our skies in the dark days of 1940 will be remembered in perpetuity as this nation's Finest Hour."
The short ceremony was presided over by the resident chaplain at St Clement Danes, The Reverend (Group Captain) Richard Lee. It is hoped that the plaque will be installed in the pavement at the main door of the church, providing a visual start to the walk and a route marker for generations to come.
Sunday's events commenced with a poignant wreath laying ceremony at the RAF Memorial on Victoria Embankment. The Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Glenn Torpy, Air Marshal Philip Sturley, President of the Royal Air Force Association, plus Air Force representatives from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, all laid wreaths at the memorial before observing a minute's silence.
A Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication followed in Westminster Abbey whilst St Clement Danes hosted a simultaneous service to mark the occasion. Both attracted hundreds of guests. The Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster, opened the Abbey's service. On welcoming the congregation he said:
"As on this Battle of Britain Sunday, we reflect on their gallantry and fortitude, we remember all who have served and those who still serve in the Royal Air Force; we honour all who have fought and those who still fight in the service of freedom.
The service included contributions from RAF representatives who read passages, the Queen's Colour Squadron who provided the lining party and music was courtesy of the Central Band of the RAF along with the Abbey's grand organ. Reverend Peter Mills, Chaplain in Chief RAF, delivered the sermon to a congregation awash with blue uniforms.
The weekend's events concluded with a flypast by four RAF Tornado fighter aircraft over Westminster Abbey. The aircraft were drawn from XXV (Fighter) Squadron based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, with the formation lead aircraft piloted by Group Captain Edward Stringer, Officer Commanding RAF Leeming and RAF Tornado F3 Force Commander, and Wing Commander John Prescott, Officer Commanding XXV (Fighter) Squadron, as navigator.
Tributes
Meanwhile tributes were also paid to 'The Few' at a number of other locations around the UK. In Yorkshire personnel at RAF Linton-on-Ouse held two events to commemorate the Battle of Britain. On Friday the airbase invited local residents, dignitaries and VIPs to attend a sunset ceremony, which was held in the Officers' Mess. Following a cocktail party the 100 guests and their hosts witnessed the lowering of the ensign as four Tucanos lit up the dusk skies by flying overhead in tribute.
On Sunday Linton Officers and men - together with veterans of the RAF Association - marched through the streets of York before attending the Battle of Britain service in the City's Minster. In his sermon the Archdeacon of the RAF, The Venerable (Gp Capt) Ray Pentland, spoke of the bravery shown by young airmen who defended the skies across southern England during the dark days of 1940. He also drew parallels with present day conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Station Commander Group Captain Mark Hopkins, who also read the first lesson, completed the service by turning a page of the Book of Remembrance which is kept in the Minster. The book lists the names of the men and women killed on active service in Yorkshire during the Second World War. A page is turned daily by Minster staff, and RAF Linton-on-Ouse personnel formally attend a turning of the page ceremony four times a year.
Personnel from RAF Leeming also remembered those who had gone before them at Battle of Britain ceremonies throughout the area. Members of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment were amongst those representing the Station at Sunday's service in the Spa Gardens at Ripon. RAF Leeming was also represented at the Battle of Britain ceremony in Stockton-on-Tees, and the Station held its own remembrance service in the Station Church.
The Battle of Britain took place between August and September 1940. The Germans needed to control the English Channel before launching the invasion of Britain. This required air supremacy. At the start of the battle, the Luftwaffe had 2,500 serviceable aircraft, the RAF had 1,200 including 800 Spitfires and Hurricanes. Britain had some advantages over the Luftwaffe including Radar, which gave early warning of the approach of enemy fighters, and the Royal Observer Corps which used binoculars to do the same job.
The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. Winston Churchill- Prime Minister of Great Britain, House of Commons. Aug 20, 1940.
ping
I know Cannon armed Spits were few during the Battle of Britian but it's all I have handy at the moment:-)
And a bit of whimsy in this pic.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
The mainstay of the RAF throughout the Battle of Britain was the Hurricane, there were not that many Spitfires available at that time.
The poor old Hurricane subsequently got it’s glory stolen by the all-conquering Spitfire which became an icon of RAF excellence.
You are pretty much correct in your assesment. Although by the time of the BoB the Hurricane was becoming a second class aircraft, especially as compared to the Bf-109 and Spitfires. When ever possible and sadly it was not that often, the Spits would try to engage the escorts leaving the Hurris to attack the bombers.
Nonetheless the courage of the RAF pilots, some of whom only had a few hours in fighters cannot be disparged.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Over here! I need bombing over here.
Thank you.
A reminder that fighting outnumbered and winning can occur; the few had the right stuff, and more than a few of our serving forces have the right stuff too, but it is particularly difficult to fight outnumbered and win when half of your legislators are on the enemy’s side.
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