Flypast to mark 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain’s ‘hardest day’

A flypast to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain’s Hardest Day is taking place over the south east today.

In total, the RAF lost 1,023 aircraft during the Battle of Britain, which lasted between July and October 1940, while the Luftwaffe suffered 1,887 losses. It was therefore named the Hardest Day.

The third group will fly over former Battle of Britain airfields at West Malling, Detling and Gravesend.

He has just also had published a poster guide to the 50 vintage Spitfires and Hurricanes flypast and it will be launched at the Biggin Hill “scramble” on Tuesday, 18th August.

It will be quite a spectacle, as 18 Spitfires and six Hurricanes take to the skies from Biggin Hill and after splitting into three formations, one of those (including eight Spitfires) will fly past the Isle of Wight.

The airport will re-enact the day’s horrifying events in honour of the pilots, engineers, armourers, operations staff and ground crews f who faced the Nazis down that day.

Hundreds of thousands of people will see and hear the aircraft during the commemoration which marks the decisive moment in the battle between “the Few” of RAF Fighter Command and the might of Hitler’s Luftwaffe.

Hamlyn flight: Eight aircraft will fly over Sevenoaks, Yalding, Ashford and the former RAF Hawkinge, with a special salute over the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-Le-Ferne.