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| Battle of Britain 75th anniversary flypast under way | Battle of Britain 75th anniversary flypast under way |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Aircraft, including Hurricanes and Spitfires, are due to fly over Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. | Aircraft, including Hurricanes and Spitfires, are due to fly over Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. |
| The planes belong to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) which is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. | |
| A specially painted Eurofighter Typhoon is also taking part in the flypast, due over London at 11:45 BST. | A specially painted Eurofighter Typhoon is also taking part in the flypast, due over London at 11:45 BST. |
| The jet has been painted in the colours used at the time of the battle, which lasted from July to September 1940. | The jet has been painted in the colours used at the time of the battle, which lasted from July to September 1940. |
| 'Phenomenal aeroplanes' | |
| Squadron Leader Duncan Mason, from the BBMF, said: "When you think of the Battle of Britain it was one of those pivotal moments of history, it ranks up there with Trafalgar, Waterloo. | |
| "It's actually not just about the RAF but the resilience of the nation showed in the face of enormous adversity." | |
| Speaking about Spitfires and Hurricanes, he added: "They're both phenomenal aeroplanes. | |
| "Of course everyone thinks of the Spitfire when they think of the Battle of Britain - they should also think of the Hurricane. | |
| "It got two thirds of the kills during the battle, it really was the workhorse… Ideally I'd like the same number of Hurricanes as I've got Spitfires but it's just not possible." | |
| The Battle of Britain was the German air force's attempt to gain air superiority over the RAF. | The Battle of Britain was the German air force's attempt to gain air superiority over the RAF. |
| Their ultimate failure was one of the turning points of the Second World War and prevented Germany from invading Britain. | Their ultimate failure was one of the turning points of the Second World War and prevented Germany from invading Britain. |
| Six surviving pilots from the Battle of Britain will join the Queen at Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the World War Two air campaign. | Six surviving pilots from the Battle of Britain will join the Queen at Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the World War Two air campaign. |
| The battle lasted throughout the summer of 1940. It was the first major battle in history fought entirely in the air and was the first significant strategic defeat for the Nazis during World War Two. | The battle lasted throughout the summer of 1940. It was the first major battle in history fought entirely in the air and was the first significant strategic defeat for the Nazis during World War Two. |