#SP272 Kings's Birthday Flypast Print 2024
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No SP272 - His Majesty The King's Birthday Flypast, London, 15 June 2024.
This print shows the complete, planned, flypast over The Mall in London on 15 May 2024.
Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. The event first included an aviation aspect in 1913, five years before the RAF was formed, with a flypast by the Royal Flying Corps for King George V. At 1pm on Saturday 15 June 2024, as His Majesty King Charles III and members of the Royal Family gather on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, the RAF will perform the King’s Birthday Flypast. The 80th Anniversary of D-Day will feature significantly in the Flypast. Many of the participating Squadrons have been awarded the Normandy 1944 Battle Honour, presented by King George VI to commemorate the Squadron’s role during D-Day. Two aircraft types, that flew on D-Day, will be part of the Flypast. On the night of 5-6 June 1944, over 500 Lancaster bombers attacked targets in Northern France whilst 16 Lancasters, from No. 617 (The Dambusters) Squadron, were part of the elaborate deception plan creating a ghost invasion force heading for Calais. Fifty-five Squadrons of Spitfires patrolled the invasion fleet and beaches throughout D-Day, all carrying the distinctive black and white “Invasion Stripes” on the wings and fuselage to aid recognition. The Flypast, called WINDSOR FORMATION, was led by three aircraft from the RAF’s Support Helicopter Force. The Puma HC2 and Chinook helicopters, making up AIRWOLF Formation, have over 90 years of combined operational service, at home and overseas. The Battle of Britian Memorial Flight (BBMF) has, since 1957, maintained the priceless artefacts of our national heritage in airworthy condition commemorating those who have fallen in the service of this country. MEMORIAL Formation, consisting of BBMF Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane, spanning 86 years of RAF service. CAMEL Formation comprising a Phenom T1 from No. 3 Flying Training School at RAF Cranwell and Texan T1s of No. 72(F) Squadron, No. 4 Flying Training School based at RAF Valley follow, ahead of the larger aircraft of the Air Mobility Force from RAF Brize Norton. Firstly, as BLACKCAT Formation, is the RAF’s heavy-lift strategic jet transport aircraft the C-17A Globemaster III. Following behind, in an air-to-air refuelling formation, is TARTAN Formation consisting of a Voyager Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft and A400M Atlas C1 transport airlifter. The next two formations combine the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Force with the Combat Air Force. THUNDERBOLT Formation is led a Poseidon MRA1 anti-submarine, surveillance and search and rescue aircraft, accompanied by two multi-role Typhoon FGR4s. This is followed GOOSE Formation, an RC-135W Rivet Joint and two more Typhoons. The Typhoon pilots in this Flypast consist of regular RAF pilots, as well as pilots from BAE Systems and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) - quite significant in this being the 100th Anniversary of the RAuxAF. Three Hawk T2 training aircraft, from RAF Valley as DEVIL Formation lead the penultimate formation consisting of four F-35B Lightnings. Flying as GHOST Formation from RAF Marham, the F-35B is a stealth, multi-role aircraft, capable of conducting air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and air-to-air missions simultaneously. The RAF Aerobatic Team, the RED ARROWS, the close the Flypast leaving the sky above The Mall painted with their patriotic red, white and blue smoke. The flypast would not be possible without the support of the service personnel from the nine participating RAF Stations, Air Traffic agencies and the support of London City and Heathrow Airports.
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