It was great to join our local Horsham Squadron of the Air Cadets and veterans at the Carfax War Memorial and afterwards at St Marys for “Battle of Britain” Sunday. The annual event remembers the climax of the Battle of Britain, on 15th September, 1940 when 1,500 aircraft took part in air battles over Sussex, Kent and London. After failing to secure air superiority the planned invasion of Britain was postponed – as it turned out indefinitely.
Of the “few”, the RAF pilots who fought to prevent our invasion, only one remains who could make the London commemoration and yet their heroism and what that meant in the battle for Europe continues to be remembered.
This year is especially important as it also marks the 100th Anniversary of the RAF. Since its creation from the merging of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service 100 years ago the Royal Air Force has consistently been on alert to protect the UK and our allies and take part where necessary in operations in support of UK ground forces, or independently, including its recent operations to confront ISIS. It has also provided air lift capabilities – critical support including in addressing humanitarian disasters.
With Russia increasingly probing the air defences of the UK and other European nations. The RAF is being called upon to provide monitoring and discouragement more often than at any point in the last quarter of a century: both around the coast of the UK and to assist our NATO friends in the Baltic and elsewhere. The RAF employs over 33,000 service men and women in a huge range of roles and supports our ability to protect UK interests from bases around the world including RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus and RAF Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands.
As I write the RAF is involved in 15 missions spread across 4 continents. The technology of air forces has moved on beyond recognition from the bright, cloudless days of September 1940 but the reputation of the RAF and its determination to live up to its motto - “through adversity to the stars” – very much remain.
Photo caption: With members of the Horsham Air Cadets at St Mary’s, Horsham after the Battle of Britain Commemoration.