The vital role played by Wales in the Battle of Britain was remembered this week at an event in Cardiff, opening with a spectacular flypast from the Red Arrows and the Chief of the Air Staff.
The exhibition told the story of the Battle of Britain Fighter aces and Commanders from Wales who defended these islands from Nazi attack, and the Welsh airfields which trained Fighter Pilots.
It featured Pilots like Sergeant Glyn Griffiths - a former Gas Engineer from Llandudno who shot down seven enemy aircraft. It also looked at the role played by Welsh Squadron Commanders such as Edward Graham from Ebbw Vale who bravely led his flight of six Fighters to attack more than 50 enemy aircraft.
"Over the years Wales has been vital to the development and success of the Royal Air Force. Just as RAF pilots were trained for the Battle of Britain at RAF Hawarden on Deeside, so the fast jet pilots of today are trained at RAF Valley on Anglesey. This exhibition reminds us of the bravery, skill and teamwork shown by Welsh pilots and ground crew in the Summer of 1940. They are the very same qualities that we nurture and develop in the RAF of today, protecting the United Kingdom and our allies. I'm delighted to be returning to Cardiff to see this excellent exhibition for myself."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston
Chief of the Air Staff
The important job of bases such as RAF Hawarden in training Spitfire Pilots for the battle featured as did the role of the RAF's only fighter airfield in Wales - Pembrey in Carmarthenshire. It told also of the 17 Welsh pilots who were killed in action during the battle and of the terrible price paid by Welsh cities like Swansea, where hundreds were killed in German bombing raids.
The exhibition was launched on Thursday 16th September with a parade from Number 4 School of Technical Training at MOD St Athan and flypast by the Red Arrows outside City Hall; with VIPs including the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, Welsh Government Minister Hannah Blythyn MS, the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Rod McKerlich, Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Gareth Chapman. Air Chief Marshal Wigston also visited an RAF STEM workshop for local pupils which was held alongside the opening event.
"There is a long and close bond between Wales and the RAF which this exhibition really brings to life. The 67 pilots – 'The Welsh Few' came from all corners of Wales. Many, like Sergeant Glyn Griffiths, came from ordinary beginnings, but they did extraordinary things. Some of these stories have never been told before and I do hope people will come and find out more on Wales' important role in the Battle of Britain."
Air Commodore Williams
Originally scheduled to be held for the 80th anniversary of the Battle in 2020, the event was postponed due to Coronavirus and is being held a year later in the week of Battle of Britain Day. That day – 15th September – is seen as the decisive day in 1940 when Nazi aircraft losses were so high that they knew they could not defeat the RAF and proceed with an invasion of Britain.
Once the exhibition has been opened in Cardiff it will then go on tour across Wales, giving everyone the chance to see and find out more about the 'Welsh Few.' Dates for this will be published shortly.
