Battle of Britain 81st Anniversary Ceremony
The RCAF marked the 81th anniversary of the #attle of Britain today with a ceremony held at Beechwood National Military Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario. The event was an opportunity to honour all the heroes who served during the Second World War, including those who fought in the historical Battle of Britain, the first major battle fought exclusively in the air.
In the skies over southeast England and the English Channel, the Battle of Britain continued from July 10 to October 31, 1940. During the battle, Canadians fought as part of the Royal Air Force and RCAF. More than 100 Canadian pilots and an estimated 300 Canadian ground crew served side by side with their counterparts.
Despite being outnumbered and up against an opposing air force already seasoned in air combat, the Allied forces persevered to change the balance of power. Twenty-three of those Canadian pilots made the supreme sacrifice during the battle and approximately 35 more would lose their lives by the time victory was won in 1945.
Due to public health measures, the event was attended by a small number of in-person attendees and many more were able to join the virtual live stream. It included a wreath laying and fly-past of vintage aircraft. The Guest of Honour was Mr. Robert Bradley, who flew over 30 missions during the Second World War.