Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary & Allied Air Forces Day
This year’s Annual Allied Air Forces Day held here at the Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, Elvington, on Sunday 5th September was once again the largest event of its type in the North, and this year marked the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Over 450 veterans, ex service personnel and serving members of the RAF took part in the Parade and Commemoration Service, followed by the March Past, Salute and Sunset Ceremony.
The Head of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton KCB ADC BSc FRAeS CCMI RAF, Chief of the Air Staff, took the Salute and he was attending in his capacity as Vice President of the Allied Air Forces Memorial. HM The Queen was represented by the Lord Lieutenant of East Yorkshire, the Hon. Mrs. Susan Cunliffe-Lister.
The poignant Service, led by YAM Chaplain the Revd. Taff Morgan MBE BA BSc RAF Rtd. reflected the fact that Winston Churchill’s famous speech, in which he stated that ” ..never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few” is actually directed at all British and Allied aircrews, not just those in Fighter Command, to whom the words have largely been attributed. Churchill’s speech actually pointed out that it was the bomber crews, undertaking their deadly missions to fly into heavily defended occupied lands to destroy enemy airfields and factories, that bore the brunt of the burden on the air force and would go on to “.. play an invaluable part in the case of invasion.”
With the loss of 998 aircrew RAF Bomber Command and Coastal Command lost more air crew during the period of the Battle of Britain, than the 544 pilots of Fighter Command, a fact very rarely reflected in articles about this epic battle of the skies.
Fittingly therefore, one of the veterans participating in the Parade was 89 years ‘young’ Ron “Bram” Bramley, who flew dangerous missions with 22 Squadron Coastal Command during the Battle of Britain in October 1940. He counts himself as one of the ‘Forgotten Few’ who seldom get the recognition they deserve. One of the few remaining Members of the Turret Committee, Ron attended as part of the Nottingham & Derby Air Crew Association contingent.
The Parade was made up of members of many regional Royal Air Force Associations, Royal British Legion Branches, Royal Observer Corps Association and other forces associations and also included a large contingent of serving personnel from 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF from RAF Leeming. This Squadron was first formed in 1936 in Yeadon (now Leeds / Bradford Airport), initially as a Bomber Squadron, but then designated to Fighter Command and one of the first Squadrons to be equipped with the new Spitfire Mk1a, went on to play a significant part in the Battle of Britain, claiming 85 ‘kills’ and going on to be the first Squadron to reach 100 victories – quite some going for what was initially a civilian Squadron. The Museum houses the fascinating 609 Squadron Memorial Room.
The Parade was led in style led by the Massed Bands of the Northern and Eastern Region Air Training Corps, and, unusually, a contingent of 9 members of the East Yorkshire RBL Riders Group on motorcycles taking part, with Standard. In all, 28 Standards were presented. The occasion culminated with a truly spectacular flypast by a Spitfire Mk 9 from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, swirling around magnificently in the sunny skies on the day, bringing an end to another wonderful day at Elvington.