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Battle of Britain commemorations on the Rock

6 September 2010 | Gibraltar  By Charlotte Cross 
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The Chief of the Air Staff says the RAF is just as relevant in today’s conflicts as it was during World War Two, and despite looming defence cuts, the service will be around to celebrate its centenary in 2018.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton made the comments during a visit to Gibraltar at the weekend.

He was on the Rock to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Tornado aircraft landed at RAF Gibraltar, ahead of the weekend’s Battle of Britain celebrations. Original planning allowed for eighteen aircraft to visit the Rock, but times being what they are, those plans were scaled down. But it didn’t stop the small detachment commemorating arguably the greatest battle in British history.

At a Sunset ceremony ahead of a Battle of Britain dinner, to the sound of the marching band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, they welcomed the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton. He took the salute at a flypast of Tornado and Hawk fast jets.

Despite speculation that the RAF could take the brunt of looming defence cuts, he’s confident the future of the service is assured.

The Chief of the Air Staff was also the guest of honour at the mounting of the Governor's Guard. He watched from the balcony of the Governor’s residence, as an RAF guard took over from G Company, of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. This ceremony happens once a year, to commemorate the Battle of Britain.

And to Gibraltarians, ceremonies like this remain an essential part of maintaining their Britishness.

This might be a weekend for looking back and remembering the past, but it’s also a time to look forward, to the future of the RAF. And at a time when there’s so much pressure on defence budgets, the Chief of the Air Staff’s visit was certainly a boost to morale here.

The celebrations were rounded off with a Battle of Britain church service at Gibraltar’s King’s Chapel.

What the young men of world war two went through isn’t lost on today’s pilots and air crews, who can appreciate more than most what they went through.

Seventy years may have passed, but the new generation won’t forget the incredible feats of bravery of those who came before them.

To watch an extended interview with the Chief of the Air Staff click on the following link http://www.bfbs.com/news/gibraltar/chief-air-staff-defends-raf-38857.html