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News Release
Historic flypast for Battle of Britain parade
Once-in-a-lifetime formation of four WWII vintage aircraft to honour Canadian war dead
Air Force / Force aérienne NR-06.005 - September 14, 2006
OTTAWA — Canada’s Air Force, in association with the Air Force Association of Canada, invites residents of the National Capital Region to witness a once-in-a-lifetime flypast involving four Second World War aircraft to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Sunday, September 17, 2006 between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa.
The event will also feature fly-pasts by two CF-18 fighter jets, a CP-140 Aurora Maritime Patrol aircraft and two CH-146 Griffon helicopters. Second World War veterans will march alongside serving members of Canada’s Air Force and Air Cadets, and the Air Command pipes and drums will provide musical accompaniment.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to show my respects to these Canadian and Allied heroes. We owe each and everyone of them our deepest gratitude,” said Lieutenant-General Steve Lucas, Chief of the Air Staff and Commander of Air Command.
Ottawa entrepreneur and founder of Vintage Wings of Canada, Michael Potter, has agreed to provide a Spitfire, a Hawker Hurricane and a P-51 Mustang for the event. An Avro Lancaster from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, will also take part in the flypast.
One hundred and three Canadians flew in the Battle of Britain between July and October 1940. Twenty-three Canadians lost their lives during the Battle of Britain. Historians have described the Battle, which involved a total of almost 3,000-Allied aircrew, as the turning point of the Second World War. The victory, described by Sir Winston Churchill as Britain’s “finest hour” gave hope to a demoralized Britain and northern Europe. It was the first battle to be won purely by air power.
PARKING
Museum parking is restricted to veterans. Free public parking is available at CFB Rockcliffe on Codd's Road, north of Montreal Road. Continuous shuttles to and from the Canada Aviation Museum will run from 9:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
ADMISSION AND SEATING
Admission to the Canada Aviation Museum will be free from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A limited number of seats are available to the general public on a first-come-first-serve basis. The public should be seated by 10:15 a.m. The Museum is located at Rockcliffe and Aviation Parkway.
WEATHER
Weather permitting, the event will proceed as planned with fly-passes and displays. Should it rain, the event will be held inside the Museum without fly-passes or displays. Contact (613) 995-6318 or (613) 993-4243 for hourly updates the day of the event should the weather be ambivalent.
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Note to editors:
Some parking is reserved for media. You will be directed upon arrival. Media are asked to be in position no later than 10:00 a.m
For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Pelley, pelley.j@forces.gc.ca
National Defence, Air Force Public Affairs
Office: 613-945-7719
Cell: 613-868-0744
Christina Lucas, Canada Aviation Museum
Communications and Marketing
Office: 613-993-4243
Cell: 613-447-7631
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