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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 2 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". Aircraft including 18 Spitfires and six Hurricanes are flying over south-east England to mark 75 years since the Battle of Britain's "Hardest Day".
The event will recall 18 August 1940, when Bromley's Biggin Hill and other South East military bases came under attack from the Luftwaffe. The event will recall 18 August 1940, when Bromley's Biggin Hill and other South East military bases came under attack from the German Luftwaffe.
It became known as the "hardest day" as both sides recorded their greatest loss of aircraft during the battle.It became known as the "hardest day" as both sides recorded their greatest loss of aircraft during the battle.
The Battle of Britain lasted throughout the summer of 1940.The Battle of Britain lasted throughout the summer of 1940.
It was the first major campaign fought entirely in the air.It was the first major campaign 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 and German Air Force 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 and German Air Force lost 136 aircraft in one day.
BBC iWonder - Why do we love the Spitfire- BBC iWonder - Why do we love the Spitfire?
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 that day.
The day will be marked with three flight formations which will take off from the airport at 12:45 BST: It is being marked with three flight formations, which take off from the airport at 13:00 BST:
On 10 July, aircraft including Hurricanes and a specially-painted Eurofighter Typhoon took part in a flypast over Buckingham Palace as part of the 75th anniversary. On 10 July, aircraft including Hurricanes and Typhoons took part in a flypast over Buckingham Palace as part of the 75th anniversary.