IN SEPTEMBER 1940 the RAF fought a determined air assault by the Luftwaffe which was launched as the prelude to a full-scale German invasion.
Hurricanes and Spitfires flew constantly from airfields such as Duxford and, despite being heavily outnumbered, victory in the Battle of Britain was theirs and the invasion never took place. Duxford is now managed by the Imperial War Museum and with much of its World War II infrastructure preserved, it provides the ideal setting for Flying Legends, arguably the greatest warbird airshow in the world. The main theme this year was to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the show began with eight Spitfires scrambling into the air and into a fast and furious tail-chase routine.
Although it did not get to Oshkosh for “The Last Time” formation flight, The Foundation Dakota Norway’s 1942 vintage C-53D nevertheless gave a spirited flying display at Duxford much to the delight of the crowd.The aircraft was a parachute-dropping and glider-towing variant of the better-known C-47.
Also a firm favourite was the Grumman F8F Bearcat flown by The Fighter Collection’s owner, Stephen Grey.
Meanwhile, flying beneath them, a lone ‘enemy’ Me-108 Buchon was chased away by a Hurricane and Spitfire. The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane also brought their unique poignancy to the afternoon’s events.
Seafire F-XVII of Kennet Aviation keeping it low and fast....
Other themes included Classic British which brought together rare fighters and civilian aircraft from the 1930s. A Naval grouping comprised three Skyraiders, two Sea Furys, a Seafire, Bearcat and Corsair, and the USAAF was represented by six P- 51 Mustangs, a B-17G Flying Fortress and P-40N Warhawk. Various French, German and Russian aircraft also took part and a Norwegian Dakota performed a remarkably agile display in this the type’s 75th anniversary year.
What better than the sound of Merlins from a Spitfire formation ?
To conclude the show most participants flew together in a ‘Balbo’ formation, an impressive sight against a backdrop of rolling green fields that has changed little since the 1940s.
Three magnificently-restored Hawker fighters from the 1930s....
The graceful Avro Lancaster.
