Waiting for the Spitfires

Today was Battle of Britain Day, celebrating 75 years since the Battle of Britain. 40 Planes leaving Goodwood from midday and flying several routes ending up at some of the main airfields used during World War II. We decided to view from Culver Down on the Isle of Wight as it looked from the route maps that 2 sorties would fly into the bay at Sandown, the perfect viewpoint. It was a blustery but bright morning, but Culver Down, usually a fairly quiet viewpoint at this time of year, was already busy when we got there only to find there had been a two hour delay due to low cloud cover over the mainland. As the time approached more and more people made the drive to the top of the downs culminating in two groups of 4 aircraft flying by at around twenty past two. The atmosphere was electric as the distant specs got closer and closer, with the quiet hum of engines in the distance as they flew by. The dramatic clouds stood tall as a fantastic backdrop as the silhouettes passed. A day I’ll not forget in a hurry.