In recognition of the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Britain, along with many other similar events across the UK; on the morning of    19 September 2021 a service of thanksgiving and commemoration was held at the church of St Mihangel, RAF Valley.

Led by the Reverend (Squadron Leader) Mike Hall; the congregation including many RAFA members, were to recall when Britain stood alone and was facing the might of Luftwaffe in its attempt to destroy the Royal Air Force, both in the air and on the ground, before launching an invasion in 1940.

However, despite many losses of both men and women and aircraft, a great victory was achieved by the Royal Air Force and the imminent danger was averted, as Adolph Hitler was finally to move his offensive towards the Soviet Union.

During the proceedings, Sergeant Dai Lawrence, followed by Group Captain Andy Turk were to provide detail of what transpired between 10 July and 31 October. The RAF was ultimately to lose 1250 aircraft, which included Bomber and Coastal Command aircraft and personnel, with Fighter Command losing 1017 fighters and 544 pilots killed. In addition, 312 RAF personnel were lost while serving at various airfields. The Luftwaffe was to lose over 2,500 airmen.

As Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was to sum up the battle, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”.

In fact, two shadow squadrons now based at RAF Valley had seen action during the crisis. No 25 Squadron had been assigned radar equipped Blenheim 1Fs and were used as night fighters to harass night attacks, when on 5 September 1940, a New Zealand pilot shot down two He 111s and a Do 17.

On the other hand, No 72 Squadron had Spitfire Mk 1s and while based at RAF Acklington was to claim 6 kills, before moving to RAF Biggin Hill in August 1940, where the squadron was to claim 16 kills and 14 probable; but unfortunately lost 27 Spitfires and 8 pilots. 

Photo  - Epitomising No 72 Squadron’s involvement; when during the Battle of Britain the unit was equipped with the Spitfire Mk 1. Eighty one years years later, this squadron Texan T Mk 1 accompanies a BBMF Spitfire Mk 16 in No 316 (Polish) Squadron markings. (Crown Copyright).