Pictured above: Spitfire in flight
This year the nation celebrates one of the most iconic times in
modern history - the Battle of Britain.
In the summer of 1940, Britain stood completely alone. Had the
brave aircrews of the RAF lost the battle, the world might still be
a very different place today.
Britain would have been occupied, there would have been no D-Day
and, perhaps more significantly, the Nazis may still have been
masters of Europe to this day.
Seventy years later we tend to forget how important a debt we
owe to the aircrews of the RAF and the foreign nationals who came
to help, and who Winston Churchill called 'The Few'.
But 'The Few' will be remembered and honoured across the country
throughout 2010 and this year's Cosford Air Show will be among the
events dedicated to their bravery.
The show, taking place on June 13 at RAF Cosford on the
Shropshire/Stafforshire border, will include the Battle of Britain
Memorial flight - a proud flight of the Spitfire, Lancaster Bomber
and Hurricane, united once again in the skies above the UK.
Visitors to the event will also be able to see a rare display by
a Typhoon and Spitfire Syncro Pair which was seen back in 2008 for
the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.
Norman Branagh, Air Show Co-ordinator, said: "This special
display will appear at only six locations during 2010 and RAF
Cosford has been selected as one of those events.
"The display sees the old combined with the new and shows the
difference in technology since the Battle of Britain and present
day. It is set to be an impressive sight.
"We are currently working on our own special tribute to the
veterans of the Battle of Britain and hope to finalise those plans
soon."
As part of the tribute Cosford commentator Sean Maffett and
producer Jonathan Ruffle have decided to explore what the Battle of
Britain means to a variety of people, using the innovative methods
they pioneered at last year's Cosford airshow with their 'Into The
Wild Blue Yonder' display.
This year visitors will hear from pilots recorded in 1940,
schoolchildren and visitors at the Cosford Museum, as well as the
voices of Churchill, ground crew and WAAFS - all timed to an air
display.
And as well as the excitement in the air visitors will also be
able to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment on the ground with a
fun fair, craft fair, market and aircraft exhibitions.
And the Large Model Association will also be entertaining the
crowds with a special flying display of their own.
The Association is an international body dedicated to creating
flying models driven by petrol or jet engines.
The RAF Museum is also included in the gate price and parking is
free.
Tickets for the show are available at local branch offices of
the Shropshire Star, the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford, Tourist
Information Centres in Birmingham (Rotunda), Stafford (Gatehouse
Theatre) and Stoke (Victoria Hall), the special air show ticket
line on 0871 230 1083, and an internet booking service at
www.seetickets.com. (Special Events; Air Shows; RAF Cosford).
Tickets are also available from Midland branches of the Mid
Counties Co-Operative Society.