Prince Harry to attend unique Battle of Britain aerial tribute

2 September 2015

 

Prince Harry will be attending one of the most significant aviation tributes ever seen in Britain – a flypast involving an estimated 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes. On 15th September 2015, the 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day, the WW2 aircraft will descend from across the UK, USA and Europe on Boultbee Flight Academy, the world’s only Spitfire Flying School, to take part in an historic flypast over the South of England. With behind the scenes access to the build-up and exclusive aerial coverage of the flypast, a  60-minute special programme, Battle of Britain: The Day The War Was Won, will bring extensive coverage of this unique event to Channel 4 that same evening.

The event, organised by Boultbee Flight Academy, will bring  together more Battle of Britain aircraft in one place than at any time since World War Two - all converging on Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex. The roar of 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes starting their engines will transport the airfield back in time to the Battle of Britain, when it was known as RAF Westhampnett and home to two fighter squadrons that fought in the campaign.

Using helicopters and a chase plane - the show will capture all the action as the Spitfires and Hurricanes form ‘Wings’ of up to eight aircraft and embark on routes covering the South of England. It will be a truly dramatic and emotional journey as they pass over iconic locations connected with the Battle of Britain, such as the White Cliffs of Dover, Biggin Hill and RAF Uxbridge.

The show will feature full and exclusive access behind the scenes and cover the key factors in pulling off the event, including the flight briefing of all the pilots which Prince Harry will attend, air traffic control and the choreography of the aircraft on the ground.

Nothing like this will have been seen since the War – and presenter, passionate Spitfire enthusiast Dermot O’Leary, will hear the emotional memories of the veterans who have come to witness it. For these last surviving members of ‘The Few’, the flypast will be a unique way to celebrate a major anniversary of the Battle of Britain. One of them, 95-year-old Tom Neil, will even be taking part with a nostalgic flight in a Spitfire.

Prince Harry will meet the veterans and will also speak to the two wounded servicemen who have undertaken an extraordinary flying scholarship with Boultbee Flight Academy to be able to fly in a Spitfire as part of the event. Prince Harry will speak to Dermot about the scholarship, which is supported by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, through its Endeavour Fund, which helps wounded, injured and sick Service Personnel and Veterans using sport and adventurous challenge as a catalyst for recovery and rehabilitation.

The two servicemen selected to take part, Nathan Forster and Alan Robinson, are following a flight training programme similar to those undertaken in the 1940s which will culminate in them playing an active role in this historic flypast. Nathan was injured in a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan with the Parachute Regiment. RAF engineer Alan had his right leg amputated above the knee after a motorbike accident. Their scholarship was inspired by the memory of ace pilot Douglas Bader who had 20 confirmed victories during World War Two, despite losing both of his legs in 1931.

As soon as the planes land back at Goodwood, Dermot will capture the emotional reactions of the pilots and passengers as they reflect on an historic flight and how this day 75 years ago changed the course of the War. The programme will also explore the extraordinary passion these planes inspire. 98-year-old ATA girl Mary Ellis will be reunited with Spitfire MV154, which she delivered during the War, whilst American aviation enthusiast John Sessions will explain how he had his Spitfire dismantled and shipped over from Seattle so it can take its place in the flypast.

On Sunday 13th September Channel 4 will also broadcast a 60 minute documentary, Battle of Britain: Return of the Spitfires, exploring the extraordinary human stories behind the Battle of Britain as fighter pilots, ground crew and enemy aircraft spotters on the ground give revealing accounts of their roles in the campaign.

The Battle of Britain was one of the pivotal moments in our nation’s history. Thousands of brave British and Allied airmen inflicted a decisive defeat on the Luftwaffe - thwarting Hitler’s plan to invade Britain and changing the course of World War Two. These programmes will celebrate this extraordinary achievement, as the last surviving veterans tell their remarkable stories and a very special tribute is paid to their legacy.

Channel 4 Commissioning Editors Rob Coldstream and Sara Ramsden have ordered the programmes from Arrow Media in association with Ora et Labora.

 

ENDS