A FLYPAST will take place over Newcastle as part of the ceremony to commemorate the 1940 Battle of Britain on Friday. The ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph in Civic Park.
BAE Hawk 127 lead in fighter aircraft from No. 76 Squadron RAAF Williamtown will perform a fly past at 10.33am. The address will be given by Air Commodore Tony Grady AM Commander Air Combat Group RAAF Williamtown.
The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces.
Most of the pilots were from Britain, but 13 other nationalities were represented including Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Canada, South Africa and Czechlovakia.
Newcastle has a direct link with the Battle of Britain. Pilot Officer John Dallas Crossman, a former student at Newcastle Boys High School, served in No 46 Squadron RAF. He was shot down and killed in the skies over Southern England on September 30, 1940.
The service commemorates the many lives lost in the battle - including at least 15 Australian men enlisted in the Royal Air Force.
