BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24982, 17 September 1946, Page 7

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Memorial services held LONDON, September 15. In every city, town, ana hamlet in the United Kingdom, people to-day attended thanksgiving services in memory of the pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. Survivors of “The Few” went to a'service in Westminster Abbey where three veterans of the battle carried the Royal Air Force Ensign up the aisle. The Prime Minister (Mr Attlee) attended the service in the Abbey. Marshal of the Royal Air Force J-ord Trenchard, after the service in the Abbey, unveiled the new inscription on the Embankment memorial nd took the salute from a march past. Church parades were held at Royal Air Force stations throughout the world. , The Chief of the Air Staff (Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder) received from President Truman a message expressing America’s admiration and respect for the men of the Royal Air Force. From General Eisenhower came the congratulations of the American Army t the men “whose magnificent achievements inspired free men the • world over.” Three hundred ’fighter aeroplanes flew over London yesterday in mass formation to commemorate the Battle of .Britain. The parade consisted of 31 Royal Air Force, 1 Naval Air Service, 3 United States 4rmy, and 7 Polish squadrons. Bombers of the 35th Squadron, which has just returned from a goodwill visit to America, led the fly-past. After the fly-past three Royal Air Force Tempest fighters collided in midair. One crashed, killing the pilot, and one crashed in a field. The pilot was unhurt. The other made a safe forced landing.