RAF takes to the skies for D-Day 80 celebrations

The Royal Air Force has been heavily involved in this week’s D-Day 80 commemorations.

Members of the UK’s air force took part in events both in the UK and France…

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The Royal Air Force has been heavily involved in this week’s D-Day 80 commemorations.

Members of the UK’s air force took part in events both in the UK and France to commemorate the landing of Allied troops on the beaches of northern France 80 years ago in World War Two.

They took part in flypasts, ceremonial events, re-enactments, educational programs, and international collaborations as part of the celebrations which were attended by world leaders including US President Biden, the UK’s King and Queen, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Macron and Ukraine’s President Zelensky.

Events held on Thursday 6 June in France included a UK commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, which was attended by armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families.

It was followed by the International Commemorative Event at Omaha Beach in Normandy where the RAF Red Arrows joined in mixed formation with the Patrouille De France to commemorate the historic day, whilst veterans and world leaders from across the Allied Forces watched.

Meanwhile on Wednesday 5 June, an event in Sannerville, France, three Atlas C1 (A400M) aircraft dropped paratroopers over ‘Drop Zone K’, mirroring the actions of RAF Dakota aircraft 80 years ago.

Other acts of remembrance took place across both the UK and France during the day, while Wednesday 5 June, saw the UK’s national event take place in Portsmouth.

Attended by the King and Queen Camilla, the National Commemoration event retold stories of bravery for Allied Forces in Europe and was closed by a flypast by the RAF Red Arrows, who flew in formation with the RAF Typhoon aircraft, painted in its D-Day livery.