BATTLE TRIBUTE AWES CROWDS
The Skies over Fairford have been filled with the sights ands sound of Second World War fighter planes as part of the Royal International Air Tattoo's Battle of Britain commemorations.
Nearly a dozen Spitfires and Hurricanes, along with a trio of German aircraft from the same era, have been performing in a series of flypasts. Their incredible displays mark the 70th anniversary of the epic air battle waged between the RAF's Fighter Command and the German Luftwaffe in the skies over Southern England during the summer of 1940.
As the aircraft took to the skies, the evocative sound of piston engines filled the air. Joining this priceless collection were their more-modern brethren from countries who contributed pilots to fight in the Battle of Britain, as well as aircraft from RAF squadrons which took part in the battle. The modern-day flypasts included fighters from the United States, Belgium and France while a 757 transport plane all the way from New Zealand also took part in the flying display.
The displays were repeated on the second day of the airshow while on the ground, visitors to the Air Tattoo were transported back to 1940 in the special Battle of Britain Village. The display enabled visitors to experience what life might have been like for the ordinary people in England in 1940, and for the brave fighter pilots and crewmen who had to eat and sleep next to their aircraft, waiting for the call to action.