Battle of Britain Day 2007

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Thought I'd at least mark Battle of Britain Day, albeit a few days late, with a link to some short cuts from the movie Battle Of Britain.

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www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4204843a6008.html

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

The words of Winston Churchill were especially poignant at a service held to commemorate the 14 New Zealand airmen who died in the Battle of Britain.

Veterans, Marlborough mayor Alistair Sowman, Kaikoura electorate MP Colin King and other supporters braved a windy and overcast Sunday morning at Seymour Square to remember the airmen who perished while flying with Britain's Royal Air Force.

Despite being outnumbered almost two to one by the Luftwaffe, the RAF lost 413 pilots the Battle of Britain, while 2500 German airmen were killed or captured.

Yesterday marked the 67th anniversary of the battle, which was commemorated with a poem remembering The Few, read by Colin Draper, president of the Marlborough RNZAF association.

In a speech, the RNZAF's Carol Abraham paid tribute to the bravery of the RAF airmen in their battle.

The RNZAF Base Woodbourne band played several hymns, and Returned Service members were invited to lay poppies in the RNZAF ensign after wreaths were laid on the war memorial.

Veteran Ignacy Adamczyk said the day was special. "We remember them every day, it is very important."

The odds were not in their favour, but they showed "great courage", he said.

Only one hiccup marred the event. Veterans looking forward to seeing fly over of a historic plane missed out when the flight was cancelled.

A pilot who was to fly, Tim Sullivan, said he was upset the flight didn't go ahead despite good weather conditions. "Due to time constraints and traffic at Woodbourne, the fly over unfortunately didn't go off as planned this year," he said.