Tomorrow will be pretty special down at the Memorial site. Im catching up on hundreds of emails, so forgive me not rewriting the release below, which comes straight from the RAF. Looks incredibly exciting though! Release follows: To commemorate 100 years since the first aerial deployment to war a unique “Then and Now” flypast over the White Cliffs of Dover will pay tribute to those who flew and fought in WW1. In August 1914 the first of 60 British Airman to land in France was Lt Hubert Harvey-Kelly, in a BE-2 biplane from No 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Now 3 replica BE-2 aircraft will re-enact that Channel crossing, with the lead biplane in Harvey-Kelly’s markings. They will be ‘escorted’ from Dover by their modern day counterparts, x 2 Tornado GR4 aircraft of No II (Army Cooperation) Squadron, Royal Air Force, recently home from flying over the frontline in Afghanistan. There will be a media facility at the Battle of Britain War Memorial at Capel-Le-Ferne, providing views straight out over the cliffs to see all the aircraft taking part. Background information can found on our website. raf.mod.uk/history/ww1.cfm Details of Mon 11 Aug 2014 1100 Headcorn BE-2 aircraft arrive at Headcorn airfield, Kent, to prepare for Channel crossing. There will be time for quick interviews, piece to camera etc. 1245 Capel-Le-Ferne Media reposition at Capel-Le-Ferne Memorial ready for joint flypast (it is 45 minute transit from Headcorn). There will be a II Sqn pilot on the ground with the media to act as an interviewee/guide to what is happening. BE-2 will take off from Headcorn (take off approx 1300) and track along the coast, whilst the Tornado will approach from the sea. 1325 Capel-Le-Ferne The aircraft will ‘meet’ (at different heights in the same position) directly ahead of the memorial. 1327 National Trust Visitor Centre, White Cliffs All aircraft will ‘meet’ again over the National Trust Visitor Centre, White Cliffs. The BE-2 aircraft will then track out cross the channel from Dover Harbour. The Tornado will make a final sweep across the cliffs before returning to base. All of this is subject to weather and aircraft serviceability – in bad weather it will move to the same timeframe, Tues 12 Aug.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 14:51:25 +0000