Classic Second World War planes will take to the skies as part of this year’s Clacton Airshow flight display programme.
The first display for this summer’s Airshow has been revealed as the iconic RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, due to bring an Avro Lancaster and two Hawker Hurricanes for both days of the event.
They will be part of an overall D-Day theme for the 31st Clacton Airshow, taking place on 22-23 August, which will be commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy invasion which began the liberation of Europe in the Second World War.
Both aircraft had a crucial role to play in Operation Overlord: Lancaster bombers flew sorties ahead of and during D-Day to soften up the German defences, while Hurricanes supported communications between the invasion forces and headquarters in Britain.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is operated by regular RAF aircrew and acts as a ‘museum without walls’. It maintains and flies six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota as well as two Chipmunk aircraft for training.
One of the Hurricanes is a MkIIc PZ685, the last Hurricane ever built; it was used in the filming of the Battle of Britain movie, and flown by Group Captain Peter Townsend in the 1950 King’s Cup Air Race having been entered by HRH Princess Margaret.
Ivan Henderson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism at Tendring District Council – which runs Clacton Airshow – said the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was always a crowd favourite.
“The roar of the Lancaster’s engines is one of the defining sounds of the Clacton Airshow, and crowds along the seafront get a fantastic close-up view of this historic plane – one of only two remaining airworthy Lancasters in the world,” Councillor Henderson said.
“Seeing this giant flanked by the equally iconic Hurricane – a bastion of the Battle of Britain and many other operations during the Second World War – is an opportunity not to be missed.
“This is a wonderful display to kick-start our flight announcements, so put the date in your diary and start planning your trip to this summer’s Clacton Airshow as well as looking out for further programme announcements over the coming weeks.”
Also announced for the flight line-up is the return of the RAF Grob Tutor T1, which is used by the Royal Air Force to provide flying instruction to Air Cadets and elementary flying training to future pilots.
For updates and more information on the 2024 Clacton Airshow people should visit www.clactonairshow.com, follow @clactonairshow on X, or go to the official Facebook event.
