Spitfires fly over 1066 Country

Spitfires and Hurricanes will fly over 1066 Country to mark the 75th anniversary of a key victory of the Battle of Britain today (September 15).
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Three groups of the World War Two aircraft will pass overhead after midday on their way from a special air display at the Goodwood Aerodrome.

The three flights will pass over the town while returning to their bases around England.

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There are only around 70 Spitfires and Hurricanes still airworthy remaining in the world and most will be taking part in Tuesday’s display in what is expected to be the largest flypast since the end of the war.

One of the three routes for the Spitfires' fly over. SUS-150915-104511001One of the three routes for the Spitfires' fly over. SUS-150915-104511001
One of the three routes for the Spitfires' fly over. SUS-150915-104511001

Some of the 50 aircraft taking part have come from as far away as America.

The Battle of Britain Day flypast is being run in conjunction with The Boultbee Flight Academy, the world’s only Spitfire flying school, which is permanently based at the Goodwood Aerodrome.

The Academy has been training two wounded servicemen to take part in the flypast as part of a scholarship run in conjunction with the Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund.

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Wing Commander Tom Neil, a 95-year-old Spitfire veteran who flew 141 combat missions during the battle, will fly as a passenger in a two-seater fighter.

From around midday, the aircraft will take off and fly over Goodwood and then disperse around the south of England, giving huge swathes of the country the chance to see a Spitfire or Hurricane fly overhead.

The planes will fly over many sites bombed during the Second World War, including factories in Southampton and Salisbury, as well as airfields as far away as Exeter and Hornchurch.

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