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Spitfires and Hurricanes soar over Kent for flypast to mark 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day

The biggest flypast of Spitfires and Hurricanes since the Battle of Britain flew over Kent today in one of Britain's most significant aviation tributes.

About 40 of the Second World War planes have took to the skies over the south of England to mark the 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day.

The aircraft descended from across the UK, USA and Europe on the Spitfire flying school, Boultbee Flight Academy, at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex, where the likes of Prince Harry watched the spectacle.

Spitfires will fly over part of Kent. Library image.
Spitfires will fly over part of Kent. Library image.

After take-off at 2pm, the planes dispersed into 10 groups.

Some of them passed over iconic locations connected with the battle including the White Cliffs of Dover and Biggin Hill.

The display was visible from Lydd, Capel-le-Ferne, Ashford, Headcorn, Gravesend, Canterbury, Manston, Margate, Detling, Rochester and Tunbridge Wells.

The event, organised by the academy, brings together more Battle of Britain aircraft in one place than at any time since the Second World War.

The Battle of Britain was one of the pivotal moments in British history, when thousands of airmen defeated the Luftwaffe and thwarted Hitler's plan to invade the UK.

Channel 4 will broadcast coverage of the flypast, featuring interviews with surviving veterans.

Battle of Britain: Return of the Spitfires is on at 8pm tonight.

For more information about the flypast routes, click here.


Watch: The day's news on KMTV

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