(RAF) The RAF today unveiled at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire a state-of-the art Typhoon fighter jet in a Battle of Britain era paint scheme to commemorate this year being the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and to acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice of those often referred to as “The Few”: the aircrew who took part in the battle. The Typhoon is also painted with the 249 Squadron identification number of the only Fighter Command pilot awarded a Victoria Cross during the battle: Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicolson VC DFC. The Typhoon along with a WWII Spitfire, as part of a Synchro-pair, will perform aerial displays at air shows across the UK this summer.
The Typhoon will be flown by Flight Lieutenant Ben Westoby-Brooks from Coningsby’s 29(R) Squadron; he said, “It is a great privilege to fly this extraordinary aircraft in recognition of the sacrifices made by our predecessors 75 years ago. Their task of securing the skies was critical in the summer of 1940 and it’s an honour to pay tribute to those few brave airmen who gave their all when the stakes were so high”.
Present to see the unveiling was Flight Lieutenant Nicolson’s nephew, Mr Jim Nicolson, he said, “I’m so thrilled that the Royal Air Force has commemorated this aircraft the way they have. It just looks amazing. The plane is amazing anyway but to see it in those colours it is just fantastic and it is the icing on the cake for me.”
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