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Battle of Britain: Flypast for 75th anniversary of 'Hardest Day' | Battle of Britain: Flypast for 75th anniversary of 'Hardest Day' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Aircraft including 18 Spitfires and six Hurricanes will fly over south-east England later to mark 75 years since the Battle of Britain's "Hardest Day". | |
The event will recall 18 August 1940, when Bromley's Biggin Hill came under attack from the Luftwaffe as it attempted to gain air superiority. | The event will recall 18 August 1940, when Bromley's Biggin Hill came under attack from the Luftwaffe as it attempted to gain air superiority. |
It became known as the "hardest day" as both sides recorded their greatest loss of life during the battle. | It became known as the "hardest day" as both sides recorded their greatest loss of life during the battle. |
The Battle of Britain lasted throughout the summer in 1940. | The Battle of Britain lasted throughout the summer in 1940. |
It was the first major battle fought entirely in the air. | It was the first major battle fought entirely in the air. |
The Luftwaffe flew 850 sorties, involving 2,200 aircrew, while the RAF resisted with 927 sorties, involving 600 aircrew - the RAF lost 136 aircraft in one day. | The Luftwaffe flew 850 sorties, involving 2,200 aircrew, while the RAF resisted with 927 sorties, involving 600 aircrew - the RAF lost 136 aircraft in one day. |
The special commemoration staged from the former RAF airfield at Biggin Hill, now a commercial airport, will honour the pilots, engineers, armourers, operations staff and ground crews who faced attack from the Nazi Luftwaffe on that day. | The special commemoration staged from the former RAF airfield at Biggin Hill, now a commercial airport, will honour the pilots, engineers, armourers, operations staff and ground crews who faced attack from the Nazi Luftwaffe on that day. |
The day will be marked with three flight formations: | The day will be marked with three flight formations: |
On 10 July aircraft, including Hurricanes and Spitfires, and a specially painted Eurofighter Typhoon took part in a flypast over Buckingham Palace as part of the 75th anniversary. |