Posted on 09/15/2015 12:45:19 PM PDT by the scotsman
'A flypast involving about 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes has taken place to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War Two's Battle of Britain.
The grouping, the biggest in one place since the war, took off from Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex, then flew to airfields linked to the battle.
Prince Harry was due to take part, but gave up his seat for a WW2 veteran when one of the Spitfires was grounded.
The battle between German Luftwaffe and the RAF was a key moment in UK history.
A service was also held earlier at London's St Paul's Cathedral, attended by Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour's new leader Jeremy Corbyn.
A range of events have already been staged over the past few months to mark the fighting, which raged between July and October 1940.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
I had a wooden tray with a Spitfire on it when I was a child in the early 40s.
I used to stare at that thing for hours.
Memories.
.
I have been lucky enough to see one fly, twice.
Majestic.
nothing quite like the sound of a Spitfire
Lucky you.
We are having a “Wings of Freedom Tour” near me and you can get a ride in a P-51 Mustang-—for $3200.00 for a full hour.
Sounds like fun but a tad pricey for me.
.
Oh, yes.
The Vulcan is something to hear mind you.
I have a soft spot for the p-51, as its a true Anglo-US plane. Most people both sides of the big pond don’t know at all about its British roots.
Sadly the Spitfires weren’t taking passengers as they weren’t the later two-seaters. Pity, if they had been, there were hundreds/thousands at the airshow that would have paid. Me included.
and the Lanc
BTTT...
The P 51 was not a true Anglo plane. With the American Allison engine it did perform well at altitude. It had to be married to a English Merlin engine to get true performance.
Imagine the skies filled by 25 times more airplanes roaring overhead.
I regard it as more British than US, but that tends to upset the Septics. LOL
Wish I could have been there.
This was England’s finest hour. The heroes of the Battle of Britain wouldn’t recognize their nation now.
My dad was driving around the end of a runway at Bentwaters one foggy morning when a Vulcan went right over the top of his car on landing the base.
He did not see it coming in and said he about jumped out of the driver’s seat :-). I always thought the things looked SO cool.
I recall watching 7 English Electric Lightnings——from Coltishall I think-—buzzing around and thought they were just so ugly and neat at the same time.
England?....England!!!
How very dare you!.
LOL
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