RAF Shawbury commemorates 75th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain
Military and civilian personnel from RAF Shawbury remembered those who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain at a special 75th commemorative dinner held on Thursday 10th September in the Officers’ Mess.
The Station Commander, Group Captain Jason Appleton and the Commandant of the Defence Helicopter Flying School, Colonel Jules Facer, welcomed the guests who were greeted by a Winston Churchill. (Mr Gerry George).
The event included a poignant flypast by a Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which flew over the Officers’ Mess. Music was provided by an Ensemble of the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment (The Ensemble plays by permission of the Air Force Board of the Defence Council).
Service personnel from RAF Shawbury have also commemorated the Battle of Britain in a number of special events around Shropshire.
The unit led the commemoration in Shrewsbury with a service in St Chad’s Church, followed by a wreath laying ceremony in the Quarry, Shrewsbury.
The Station Commander, Group Captain Jason Appleton laid the wreath on behalf of RAF Shawbury. Personnel from RAF Shawbury paraded around the Quarry memorial with members of the local Royal Air Force Associations, Shropshire Air Crew Association and Royal Observer Corps Association. Also present were cadets from No 1119 (Shrewsbury) Air Cadet Squadron whilst the Squadron Standard of No Sixty (R) Squadron of the Defence Helicopter Flying School was also on parade.
Group Capt Jason Appleton said: "RAF Shawbury is proud to 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 1940. Their legacy endures as the Royal Air Force continues to safeguard UK airspace and protect against threats from the air today.”
