Service personnel from RAF Shawbury and the Defence Helicopter Flying School have commemorated the Battle of Britain in a number of special events on the base and in the local area.

The airbase has hosted 2 formal Dining in Nights in the Junior Ranks and Warrant Officers & Sergeants Messes with the Officers Mess function due on 23 September. At the Officers Mess the guest speaker will be Flight Lieutenant (Retd) Mike Bailey. Mike flew over 70 different aircraft types for the RAF during his long career and lives in Market Drayton. Mike will be joined at the event by DFC winner John Trotman and Battle of Britain Pilot, Ron Smyth.

On Sunday personnel from RAF Shawbury and the Defence Helicopter Flying School attended services in local churches to commemorate the Battle. Personnel were present at the services at Shawbury, Little Drayton, Ellesmere and Pradoe.

Also taking place yesterday personnel from RAF Shawbury and the Defence Helicopter Flying School attended a ceremony in Shrewsbury, with civic dignitaries and local Air Cadets. The ceremony began with a Service of Commemoration at St Chad’s Church before a wreath laying ceremony in the Quarry. Both ceremonies were attended by a large number of members of the general public.

Group Captain ‘Bunny’ James, who lead the airbase contingent in Shrewsbury, said: “RAF Shawbury and the Defence Helicopter Flying School were 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. Theirs was the first, great aerial battle for the survival of this country. For their achievements we all give thanks this year, seventy years after their great struggle.”