RAF Shawbury commemorates the Battle of Britain

The unit led the commemoration in Shrewsbury with a service in St Chad’s Church followed by a wreath laying ceremony in the Quarry. The Station Commander, Group Captain Alastair Smith, laid the wreath on behalf of RAF Shawbury whilst Councillor Jon Tandy, the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Mrs Diana Flint, the High Sheriff of Shropshire and Mr Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury, led the local contingents.

Personnel from RAF Shawbury paraded around the Quarry memorial with members of the local Royal Air Force Associations, Royal British Legions, Air Crew Associations and Royal Observer Corps. Also present were cadets from No 1119 (Shrewsbury) Air Cadet Squadron whilst the Squadron Standard of No Sixty (R) Squadron of the Defence Helicopter School was also on parade. At the Quarry the memorial reading was completed by Air Commodore John Burke, President of the Shrewsbury and District Branch of the Royal Air Force Association.

Personnel from the unit also attended services and events across the county to commemorate the Battle of Britain and the sacrifice paid by so many. Personnel were present at services at Shawbury, Ellesmere and Pradoe. At Shawbury, where Squadron Leader Adrian Vine of Operations and Administration Wing laid the wreath, service personnel joined members of the public in remembering the sacrifice of the local community.

Group Captain Alastair Smith, the RAF Shawbury Station Commander said:

“RAF Shawbury is proud to remember and honour all the airmen who fought, and those who died, in the service of their country in the skies above Britain during those crucial weeks in the summer of 1940. Their legacy endures as the Royal Air Force continues to assure the integrity of UK airspace and protect against threats from the air today.”