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Battle of Britain: Historic flypast for 75th anniversary Battle of Britain: Historic flypast for 75th anniversary
(35 minutes later)
A flypast involving about 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes is taking place to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War Two's Battle of Britain.A flypast involving about 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes is taking 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 in waves from Goodwood airfield in West Sussex before dispersing around the region.The grouping - the biggest in one place since the war - took off in waves from Goodwood airfield in West Sussex before dispersing around the region.
Prince Harry was due to take part, but gave up his seat for a battle veteran when one of the Spitfires was grounded.Prince Harry was due to take part, but gave up his seat for a battle veteran when one of the Spitfires was grounded.
The battle between German Luftwaffe and the RAF was a key moment in UK history.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 David Cameron and Labour's Jeremy Corbyn. 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.A range of events have already been staged over the past few months to mark the fighting, which raged between July and October 1940.
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Bad weather Polish President Andrzej Duda attended the service at St Paul's, and was welcomed to Downing Street by Mr Cameron afterwards.
Tuesday's flypast and service are being held on Battle of Britain Day - the name given to the day, on 15 September 1940, when the German Luftwaffe launched its largest and most concentrated attack against London in the hope of drawing out the RAF. The prime minister described the service as "very moving", and said it was a "particular honour" to see Mr Duda on the battle's 75th anniversary.
Spitfires, Hurricanes and Blenheims, from across the UK, US and Europe came together at Goodwood Aerodrome, West Sussex, to take part in the flypast. Present-day owners, operators, pilots and engineers are there alongside veterans. "The battle that really was not just one of most vital moments in the history of Britain, but in the history of Europe and the world, in which Polish pilots played such an absolutely vital role in saving Europe from tyranny, from Nazis and from Hitler," he said.
Tuesday's flypast and service are being held on Battle of Britain Day - the name given to the day, on 15 September 1940, when the Luftwaffe launched its largest and most concentrated attack against London in the hope of drawing out the RAF.
Spitfires, Hurricanes and Blenheims, from across the UK, US and Europe came together at Goodwood Aerodrome. Present-day owners, operators, pilots and engineers are there alongside veterans.
Battle of Britain pilot Wing Commander Tom Neil, now 95, is leading the formation from the rear seat of a two-seat Spitfire.Battle of Britain pilot Wing Commander Tom Neil, now 95, is leading the formation from the rear seat of a two-seat Spitfire.
He is being joined by wounded service personnel who have been training to fly the Spitfire as part of the Spitfire Scholarship set up by the Boultbee Flight Academy in partnership with the Royal Foundation's Endeavour Fund, which Prince Harry launched at Goodwood in 2014.He is being joined by wounded service personnel who have been training to fly the Spitfire as part of the Spitfire Scholarship set up by the Boultbee Flight Academy in partnership with the Royal Foundation's Endeavour Fund, which Prince Harry launched at Goodwood in 2014.
The aircraft were due to take off at 12:00 BST but this was delayed until 14:00 BST because of bad weather.The aircraft were due to take off at 12:00 BST but this was delayed until 14:00 BST because of bad weather.
The BBC's Robert Hall is at the aerodrome and says one of four two-seater Spitfires due to take part has become unserviceable - prompting Prince Harry to pull out to allow others to fly instead. The BBC's Robert Hall is at the aerodrome and says one of four two-seater Spitfires due to take part became unserviceable - prompting Prince Harry to pull out to allow others to fly instead.
At the scene
By BBC News correspondent Daniela Relph
The emphasis at the commemorative service at St Paul's Cathedral was on "everyone" - the pilots and air crew, but also radar operators, air raid wardens, firefighters, nurses and maintenance teams who played their part in the Battle of Britain.
It included foreign air forces who supported the British air assault - the president of Poland heard the gallantry of Polish pilots described as "unsurpassed".
Sitting nearby on his first official engagement as Leader of the Opposition was Jeremy Corbyn, not looking obviously uncomfortable in the heart of the establishment.
Afterwards he told me he'd been to St Paul's many times before and it was a beautiful church. He said he'd thought of his mother today, who had been an air raid warden during the Blitz.
During the service, the Dean of St Paul's, the very Reverend David Ison, said we remembered the Battle of Britain bravery today but were also mindful that "our world is disfigured still by war and violence".
Some of the aircraft will return to Goodwood, while others will end up at Battle of Britain airfields including Biggin Hill and Northolt.Some of the aircraft will return to Goodwood, while others will end up at Battle of Britain airfields including Biggin Hill and Northolt.
The Battle of Britain Day flypast website has maps of the approximate routes.The Battle of Britain Day flypast website has maps of the approximate routes.
Live information on the departure times of each group will be posted on Boultbee Academy's twitter feed. Prince Edward also attended the service, which was organised by the RAF Association.
BBC News correspondent Daniela Relph, at St Paul's, said afterwards that Mr Corbyn described it as "a beautiful service in a beautiful church".
He said he thought of his mother, who was an air raid warden during the Blitz, and that he still treasures her badge.
Prince Edward also attended the service, which has been organised by the RAF Association.
It commemorated all those involved in the battle, including ground crew, radar operatives and maintenance operatives, as well as flight crew and pilots.
A march past by about 75 standard bearers took place afterwards, and a scale model Spitfire is at the west front of the cathedral.A march past by about 75 standard bearers took place afterwards, and a scale model Spitfire is at the west front of the cathedral.
The pilots of the RAF, who became known as "The Few", successfully stood up to wave after wave of German fighters and bombers.The pilots of the RAF, who became known as "The Few", successfully stood up to wave after wave of German fighters and bombers.
In his famous speech, wartime leader Winston Churchill spoke of the sacrifices made during this period: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."In his famous speech, wartime leader Winston Churchill spoke of the sacrifices made during this period: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
Will you watch the Battle of Britain flypast? Please share your stories and pictures via haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Will you watch the Battle of Britain flypast? Please share your stories and pictures via haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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