RAF Marham on Parade - Battle of Britain Week 2007

Norwich City Hall Parade
Spitfire flypasts brought back memories of one of Britain’s greatest military victories as the start of Battle of Britain week was marked in Norfolk on Monday 10th September 2007.

RAF Marham personnel joined veterans and their families, dignitaries and other service men and women at City Hall to commemorate the 67th Anniversary and to remember those who fought this crucial air battle of the second world war.

The Band of the RAF Regiment, received a rapturous applause from onlookers for their rendition of Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines followed by the Spitfire Flypast.

Lord Mayor Roy Blower told the crowd it was important to recognize the role the RAF played in defending democracy. He added “I hope we will remember the tremendous sacrifice they made risking their lives so many years ago when many of them were little more than boys.

“But we must also remember the sacrifice that is still being made by the armed forces in other parts of the world today”.

Mrs Delia Parker, an onlooker at City Hall said “RAF Marham personnel should be congratulated on their performance today. The Parade was superb. They did their comrades who have fallen in past wars proud. They looked smart and the flypast was out of this world. Well Done and Thank you”.

King’s Lynn Tower Gardens Parade
(Article from Lynn News 14/09/07)

Airmen who lost their lives in one of the most decisive wartime battles have been honoured in a commemorative service at Lynn’s Tower Gardens.

Veterans, family and friends gathered on Monday to remember crews who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Battle of Britain 67 years ago.

As wreaths were laid at the war memorial, a Spitfire plane, part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby, near Lincoln flew by.

Prayers were read and hymns, including the National anthem, were sung while a guard of honour was provided by airmen from RAF Marham.

The Battle of Britain is considered one of the first major battles to be fought entirely by air forces and one of Nazi Germany’s biggest defeats during the Second World War. On September 15, 1940, a total of 30 aircraft were lost, 11 pilots were killed and a further nine were injured serving their country.

High Flight
Considered by many airmen to be a classic, this beautiful poem was written by a nineteen-year-old R.C.A.F. pilot who was killed in action on 11th December 1941.

On, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-slivered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind – swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle ever flew –
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of god.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr