RAF marks 80th anniversary of Battle of Britain

Image shows a BBMF fly past at the the Battle of Britain Service at Westminster Abbey. ©Crown Copyright
Image shows a BBMF fly past at the the Battle of Britain Service at Westminster Abbey. ©Crown Copyright

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has marked the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain with a special service in Westminster Abbey and a flypast over London.

The Battle of Britain was thought in the skies over the UK between 10th July and 31st October 1940.

Image shows the Standard bearers formed up on the alter at the Battle of Britain Service at Westminster Abbey. ©Crown Copyright
Image shows the Standard bearers formed up on the alter at the Battle of Britain Service at Westminster Abbey. ©Crown Copyright

The 15th September 1940 is celebrated as ‘Battle of Britain Day’ as it was the day that the German Luftwaffe launched a massive assault in the skies over Britain.

The Luftwaffe suffered significant casualties and a decisive defeat turned the tide in the battle.

The service was held on the 1st Sunday after Battle of Britain day.

Photogaphed here the Battle of Britain flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight over Westminster Abbey. ©2020 Crown  Copyright
Photographed here the Battle of Britain flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight over Westminster Abbey. ©2020 Crown Copyright

The day saw three Spitfires and a Hurricane, aircraft synonymous with the Battle of Britain, fly over central London and over Westminster Abbey.

Losses during the battle included 544 RAF aircrew as well as 312 RAF personnel killed on the ground.

The Battle of Britain was the first defeat that Nazi Germany had suffered and was also the the first major battle fought entirely in the air.

During the Battle of Britain, then Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”.

Footage from inside the formation showed its flight over London

About Nick Harding 1897 Articles
Nick is the senior reporter and editor at UK Aviation News as well as working freelance elsewhere. He has his finger firmly on the pulse on Aviation, not only in the UK but worldwide. Nick has been asked to speak in a professional capacity on LBC, Heart and other broadcast networks.