Battle of Britain 2021 Air Show By Juri Keyter Every time I start writing an air show report, it takes some time to align my thoughts on how I will convey my air show experience into words and that is at times easier said than done. But reporting on an air show hosted by the Imperial War Museum in Duxford is easy. I simply just show the line-up and if that does not impress you, then nothing will. WWII Era Aircraft: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX PT879 Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk.XI PL983 Supermarine Spitfire T9 PV202 Supermarine Spitfire T9 NH341 Supermarine Spitfire T9 PT462 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII MV154 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI TD248 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia N3200 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV MV293 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc EE602 Supermarine Spitfire T9 ML407 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.Vc JG891 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.Vb BM597 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.Vc AR501 Hispano Buchon HA-1112 G-AWHK Hispano Buchon HA-1112 G-AWHH Hispano Buchon HA-1112 G-AWHC North American P-51D Mustang 'Miss Helen' North American TF-51D Mustang 'Contrary Mary' Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Hawker Hurricane Mk.I R4118 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I P2902 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I P3171 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I V7497 Goodyear Corsair FG-1D Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat Curtiss P-40F Warhawk Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Sally B' RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina de Havilland Beaver AL Mk1 (Historic Army Aircraft Flight) Auster Mk9 (Historic Army Aircraft Flight) WWI Era Aircraft: Bremont Great Warbird Display Team including Sopwith Triplane Fokker Dr1 Triplane Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a Junkers CL1 Other performers: Raven Display Team Agusta Bell Sioux AH Mk1 (Historic Army Aircraft Flight) Westland Scout AH Mk1 (Historic Army Aircraft Flight) Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 Westland Wessex HU5 Westland Seaking The show started off in 1940, when the Spitfire ruled the skies and the 'Few' brought hope to the British Isles. Once the Spitfire dust settled, the Americans arrived in support with the Fighter Collection, Europe's finest collection of vintage aircraft from the golden age of piston engine design and performance. The collection included a Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat, Grumman Wildcat FM2, Corsair FG-1D, Curtiss Hawk 75, Curtiss P-40F Warhawk and they were closely followed by a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress. The Germans unexpectedly started a ground attack from the west in a formation of Messerschmitt Bf 109s. They are actually Hispano Buchon HA-1112s built under licence in Spain during and after World War II with the only major difference from the Bf 109 being the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Diving from altitude, a formation consisting of a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and two North American P-51D Mustangs engaged and a dogfight ensued to the thrill of the spectators. It is extremely rare to see these WWII flying legends in action but WWI fighters in the air takes us back more than a hundred years. The air show closed with a fourteen-ship Spitfire and four-ship Hurricane formation. What a spectacular site and I can't wait to attend this air show again next year.

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