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Royal Air Force celebrates The Battle of Britain

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Members of the Royal Air Force here held a special ceremony September 15 to honor lives lost and celebrate their victory in the Battle of Britain 67 years ago. 

The Battle of Britain is a national celebration of Great Britain's independence, said Wing Commander Dean Andrew, 31 Squadron commanding officer. 

The ceremony included a short church service, readings depicting events from the battle of Britain and a fly over by two Tornado GR-4s and a VC-10. 

Members of the Royal Air Force also viewed the movie The Battle of Britain Monday night to relive the moment in history, Commander Andrew said. 

"It's something that's etched in the mind of anyone from Great Britain," he said. "It signifies the fight of the underdog against the overwhelming favorite." 

In addition to defending the island of Great Britain, British forces had been fighting on continental Europe for a year before the Battle of Britain and lost many of their aircraft and aircrew. 

During the Battle of Britain, the Royal Navy did not have the strength or numbers to counter the advancing German naval force. In addition the German Luftwaffe, one of the world's largest and most capable air forces to exist, out-numbered the now reduced Royal Air Force. 

From July 10, 1940 to Oct. 31, 1940, the Battle of Britain was fought not only by the Royal Air Force, but included a coalition of pilots and aircraft, many from the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and individuals pilots that fled German occupied countries.
Commander Andrew related the Battle of Britain to the current deployment of 31 Squadron. 

"Being on operations and taking the battle to the modern day terror, it feels as if we are the modern day Battle of Britain pilots, fighting evil wherever we may find it," he said, "and as part of a coalition, particularly with our Australian and American coalition partners." 

Air Commodore Nick Randle, Air Officer Commander of the 83rd Expeditionary Group, also attended the ceremony Saturday. 

During his military career, Commodore Randle met several veterans of the Battle of Britain, making the celebration a bit more personal, he said. 

Many of the qualities that individuals from the Battle of Britain showed, such as bravery, courage and devotion to duty, are ones still displayed in the Royal Air Force today, Commodore Randle said. There's a continuation between the Royal Air Force in 1940 and the quality expected of todays aircrew then and now.