75 years after the start of the Battle of Britain, the RAF marked the anniversary today [Friday, 10 July] with an enhanced Change of the Guard and a flypast in front of The Queen and six Battle of Britain veterans at Buckingham Palace.

After the Guard Mounting by the Queen’s Colour Squadron – the first time the RAF has mounted consecutive Queen’s Guards – Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family watched a flypast of four Spitfires, two Hurricanes and four Typhoon jets, showcasing the RAF aircraft protecting UK skies then and now.

The Battle of Britain began on 10 July 1940 with a series of Luftwaffe attacks on shipping convoys off England’s south-east coast. On that day, the RAF shot down 14 enemy aircraft and severely damaged 23 more, according to the then Air Ministry. Some 200 patrols were flown involving 641 aircraft.

The battle ranks alongside the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo as one of the most significant in British history. It was the first major battle in history fought entirely in the air and was the first significant strategic defeat for the Nazis during World War II.

Press release MOD UK
Picture: Rob Vogelaar