War veterans mark anniversary of bomber command (From The Advertiser Series)
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Anniversary for Britain's largest wartime bomber command
5:16pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in News
THE anniversary of Britain’s largest wartime bomber command base has been marked by war veterans from its original RAF squadron.
Today was the 70th anniversary of bomber command at RAF Elvington, which set up at the then recently opened airfield near York in October 1942.
It was home to RAF Halifax bombers and the Free French Air Force in the Second World War.
Yorkshire Air Museum, which is now based at the airfield, marked the occasion in a special ceremony attended by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu and former television newsreader Jan Leeming, who are vice presidents of the museum and memorial.
Also present were diplomatic representatives from Canada, Australia and France.
Some of the first airmen to be based at the airfield when it opened, wartime verterans of the original 77 Squadron RAF, were also present.
During 18 months, they lost more than 600 airmen in action.
There was also a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster bomber and a Spitfire fighter.
