Press Release – New Zealand Defence Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force will be taking part in a series of services and parades to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Wellington: Tuesday 15 September
A Commemorative Service will be held at the National War Memorial commencing at 11.00am.
The Queen’s Colour for the RNZAF will be paraded and the Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott will lay a wreath and say the scripture reading.

At the completion of the service there will be a flypast over the National War Memorial by a Spitfire aircraft.
RNZAF people will also attend services in Waipapakauri and Westport.

Background notes:
• The Battle of Britain was the air war, from the 10 July to the 31 October 1940, fought over Great Britain between the German Luftwaffe and the Royal Air Force, which also included pilots from Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand, during World War II. There were 127 New Zealand pilots who flew during the Battle of Britain, the third largest contribution behind Poland (145), and Britain (2341).

• The Germans attacked with a total force of 900 fighters (mostly Messerschmitt BF –109’s) and 1300 bombers who mounted massive daily raids on southern England. On the other side, the RAF and her allies had much smaller forces – 650 Hurricanes and Spitfires.

• New Zealander Sir Keith Park played an integral role in the battle. As Air Vice-Marshal, Park took command of RAF No. 11 Group, responsible for the fighter defence of London and southeast England during the Battle of Britain. In 1947 Air Marshal of the RAF, Lord Tedder said of Park’s leadership, “If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I do not believe it is realised how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm judgment and his skill, did to save, not only this country, but the world.”

• The Spitfire performing the flypast is a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire mark IXC model built in September 1944 at the giant Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich in the British Midlands.

• The aircraft, owned by Brendon and Shirley Deere, has been restored over a period of just over 5 years by a team of engineers working full time at Feilding Aerodrome. The largely complete aeroplane was moved by road to Ohakea in January this year

• The distinctive “AL” on the fuselage signifies this aircraft was flown by New Zealander Wing Commander Al Deere who was in charge of the Biggin Hill Spitfire Wing in mid 1943. Pilots of Wing Commander rank and above were allowed to use their initials instead of the squadron codes. Alan Deere was the only pilot who was known to use his nickname instead.

• Alan Deere was born in Auckland, raised in Westport and Wanganui. In 1937 at the age of 19, he was one of 12 New Zealanders selected for short service commissions in the Royal Air Force. He trained on Tiger Moths and joined 54 Squadron at Hornchurch flying Gloster Gladiators prior to the outbreak of WWII. He had his first flight in a Spitfire on 6 March 1939 at Eastleigh.

He was at the forefront of action in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain and was decorated for his success against the Luftwaffe. He commanded a number of Squadrons during the war and was appointed to command the Biggin Hill Wing in 1943 – this Wing included 485 RNZAF Squadron. At the end of the war he had a total of 22 enemy aircraft destroyed.
The information contained in this Internet Email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information, but not necessarily the official views or opinions of the New Zealand Defence Force. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, copy or
distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received this message in error, please Email or telephone the sender immediately.

ENDS

Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
Original url