Double flypast over Banbury to commemorate The Battle of Britain

It will be highlighted in dramatic fashion when a Hurricane and Spitfire fighter plane perform a flypast above Horsefair this Sunday, September 16.

Their appearance will be part of Banbury Town Council’s Battle of Britain Day which will begin at 11am.

A military and civic parade will march from Broad Street, up High Street, round the Cross into Horsefair, and to St Mary’s Church for a memorial service at 11.30am.

Following the service the parade will line up for the flypast at 12.54pm before marching back down High Street for the salute.

Leader of the council Kieron Mallon said: “This event is a deserved tribute to those who defended this country in the most courageous way.

“Many lost their lives and they, and those who survived the battle, must never be forgotten.”

Banbury played an important role in the war effort with the former aluminium factory on Southam Road, producing wings for the iconic Spitfire.

To protect the plant from air raids, the real factory was camouflaged and a fake one built three miles north to mislead German bombers.