80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain marked with ceremony at RAF Honington

The 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain was marked with a special sunset ceremony at RAF Honington.

Personnel from the airbase, which is near Bury St Edmunds , gathered last week for the event, which included a flypast flypast by a Spitfire adorned with Battle Honours of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

A spokesman said: “The Battle of Britain was one of Britain’s most important victories of the Second World War.

“A major military campaign in which the Royal Air Force defended the United Kingdom against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany’s Air Force, the Luftwaffe. It has been described as the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces.”

RAF Honington played its part in the battle on August 19, 1940, when seven people were killed and 20 were injured when the Luftwaffe launched bombing raids.

The airbase has traditionally supported Battle of Britain celebrations by parading at Wings Week in Bury St Edmunds and Thetford. However, the coronavirus placed limitations on the plans.

The spokesman added: “Covid-19 restrictions and limitations on the number of people that can meet at such events meant that a more intimate event had to be held.

“But the Station was pleased to have the Mayor of Theford, Councillor Mark Robinson and Lady Mayoress Kim Robinson, join in the commemoration and raise a glass of port as the toast ‘The Few’.”

The ceremony also included the reading of three vignettes.

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