Military, local community commemorate the Battle of Britain

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Brian Maguire
  • 501 CSW Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  Local military and community leaders commemorated the 71st anniversary of The Battle of Britain with a Beating of Retreat and Sunset Ceremony Sept. 7.

The ceremony included live music from the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment, RAF bagpipers, RAF Regiment Gunners of The Queen's Colour Squadron and two Yeoman Warders of Her Majesty's Palace & Fortress, The Tower of London.

"The ceremony is just one way we have to commemorate and honour those who fought and died during The Battle of Britain," said Sqn Ldr Andy Thayne, Royal Air Force commander for RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth and RAF Upwood, who hosted the Sunset Ceremony. "We are also honoured to have with us this evening a veteran of the Few, Mr. Owen Burns, 96."

Displaying the pomp and ceremony attached to military events, the guests, consisting of local civic and military dignitaries, including the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire Richard Barnwell, entered the viewing area through a lining party consisting of the pipers, regiment gunners and the Yeoman Warders. The Royal Air Force Ensign and the Stars and Stripes were then lowered during sunset, followed by the British and American national anthems. A lone piper standing under the empty flag poles played 'Lights Out' to conclude the ceremony.

According to the RAF Air Historical Branch Archives, the Battle of Britain raged in the skies over England from July 10 - Oct. 31, 1940. The RAF was reinforced by pilots from across the British Empire, Ireland, Americans that joined the RAF or Royal Canadian Air Force, and refugees from Poland, Czechoslovakia, France and Belgium.

"The multi-national nature of the pilots defending Britain in 1940 foreshadowed the multi-national joint operations in which we engage today," said Col. Michael Reiner, 423rd Air Base Group commander. "Over the past decade, our Airmen fought side-by-side with British, French, Polish, Czech, Australian and Canadian forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere; the Sunset Ceremony highlighted the proud heritage of cooperation and alliance that our countries have shared."

Throughout World War II, more than 9,000 American pilots joined the RAF, Auxiliary Air Force and RCAF, forming three Eagle Squadrons led by RAF commanders. These pilots were the precursor to the significant contribution made by U.S. Army Air Force crews when the United States entered the war in late 1941.

"Winston Churchill summed up the contribution of Allied Airmen in 1940 by saying: 'Never, in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few." Thayne said. "Churchill's words explain better than any others why we honour the memory of 'The Few', but equally, let us never forget the Many who followed in their footsteps - and the brave men and women who continue to do so today."