Legendary aircraft will soar over Guernsey this Liberation Day, plus RAF Falcons display

Guernsey’s skies will roar with the sound of history this Liberation Day, as a fleet of Second World War aircraft present a spectacular display of wartime aviation.

Included in the 80^th anniversary programme is ‘Ready for Duty’ (R4D), operated by the Dallas-based Commemorative Air Force and the last aircraft of its kind that is still flying.Built in 1944, R4D is the U.S. Navy’s version of the legendary DC-3 and C-47.

The aircraft is embarking on a 12,000-mile journey to honour the service and sacrifice of American and Allied forces for VE Day and the 80^th anniversary of the end of the war. The aircraft will carry several historic artefacts from World War II warships including items from the USS Yorktow, USS Texas and USS Laffey.

R4D will be joined by a Hawker Hurricane and a Harvard to carry out flypasts on 9 May in Guernsey to coincide with the Cavalcade.The Hawker Hurricane R4118 was built in 1940 and is the only Hurricane to have taken part in the Battle of Britain that remains flying. The FE511 Harvard was built in 1942 and was one of the allies’ most important training aircraft.

Meet the Pilots Event – Guernsey Airport, 8 May, 3.30pm

Members of the public will have the opportunity to see all three aircraft at the Ravenscroft-sponsored Meet the Pilots on the East Apron at Guernsey Airport on Thursday 8 May at 3.30pm.The event will remain open until 6.30pm to allow people to enjoy the aircraft after work. The R4D, Hawker Hurricane and Harvard will be joined by Aurigny’s beloved Joey and the Channel Islands Air Search aircraft rounding out a tribute to decades of flight and service.

Deputy Sue Aldwell, Committee for Education, Sport and Culture, said:

“The ‘Meet the Pilots’ event is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to learn more about the aircraft that were fighting in the war over 80 years ago. It is important for children and adults to have the opportunity to see these aircraft up close and speak to the pilots and crew who are dedicated to keeping them in the sky.”

Robin Newbould, CEO of Ravenscroft, said:

“We are excited to continue our sponsorship of this much-loved community event which always attracts hundreds of aviation fans, young and old, and raises funds for the Guernsey Air Display. This type of event has been enjoyed in Guernsey for over 60 years and is so important in commemorating the legacy of the RAF community who have served their country over the last century.”

As well as the afternoon flying activity, a P8 Poseidon from 201 Squadron and an A400M will fly along the east coast to coincide with the Parade at 11.35am and 11.45am respectively. A Spitfire MK9 will finish the flypast activity with a pass along the same route at approximately 7pm.

In addition to the flypasts, the RAF Falcons will carry out a spectacular parachute drop and display at L’Eree at 3.30pm on 9 May as part of the St Pierre du Bois parish event. The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team is the only centrally funded, professional, military parachute display team in the UK.

Anne Thomas, event organiser for the St Pierre du Bois parish event, met two of the Falcons team during a recent a recce of the site. She said:

“We considered two landing locations; the beach is the preference with the aerodrome as back up, both of which will work well for them as well those spectating. We’re very hopeful that conditions will allow a beach landing with such an amazing backdrop but will assess the conditions with the team on the day. Either way, we’re extremely excited to have the opportunity to provide such an exciting and visual display for our community in a beautiful location and they will be a fantastic addition to our already packed day.”

STATIC DISPLAY - Thursday 8 May, 3.30pm - 6.30pm

East apron, Guernsey Airport

1. Hawker Hurricane
2. Harvard
3. C-47 Ready 4 Duty
4. Channel Islands Air Search
5. Joey
6. Airport fire tender
7. Military vehicles

LIBERATION DAY FLYPASTS - Friday 9 May

11.35 - P8A Poseidon flypast along east coast

11.45 - A400M flypast along east coast

2.15-2.30pm - Hurricane and Harvard will complete two laps of the island

2.35-2.45pm - R4D C47 will complete two laps of the island

Approx 7.00pm - Spitfire MK9 flypast along east coast (exact timing to be confirmed)

LIBERATION DAY RAF FALCONS – Friday 9 May
3.30pm - Parachute drop at L’Eree

AIRCRAFT NOTES

Hawker Hurricane

Built in 1940, the Hawker Hurricane R4118 is the only Hurricane to have taken part in the Battle of Britain that is still flying. During its time in the Battle of Britain, the R4118 shot down five enemy aircrafts and was part of over 40 sorties.

In October 1940, the Hurricane R4118 itself was shot down and had to be rebuilt before taking to the skies and returning to active combat in 1941. Over the next two years, it had to be rebuilt three more times after being used as a training aircraft and suffering major accidents.

From 1943-1947, it was left in its packing case after being transferred to Bombay and then donated to Varanasi university for engineering instruction. It was left exposed to the elements until 1996, when it was bought by Peter Vacher and finally returned to the UK in 2001 and restored.

Harvard

The Harvard FE511 is a pristine example of the allies’ most important advanced training aircraft from WWII. Built by Noorduyn Aviation, Montreal in 1942, FE511 is one of over 15,000 T-6s of all variants built. 

The AT-16, Harvard 2B has been extensively restored and provides the perfect platform for warbird-experience flights and conversion training for pilots wishing to step up to piloting high-powered piston aircraft.

C-47 Ready 4 Duty
The DC-3 was originally developed to carry 21 passengers, but the R4D-6S was no mere passenger carrier. Built as a warbird, the aircraft was modified to carry depth charges on external racks mounted under the fuselage between the main landing gear. Assigned to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Special Service Squadron R4D conducted airborne search radar and sonar evaluation as well as training airborne specialists and operators.

During operational patrols in February 1945, R4D was one of 20 in a squadron that surprised a surfaced German U-Boat off the coast of Brazil and sank it. At the end of WWII, the aircraft was retained in service and assigned to Naval Headquarters Berlin. Later, it returned to the U.S. and served in an electronics warfare training role. The aircraft is now configured to demonstrate several World War II history lessons, including sub-chaser.

P8A Poseidon

201 Squadron is a maritime reconnaissance Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth. which currently operate the P8A Poseidon.

Boeing’s Poseidon MRA1 (P-8A) is a multi-role maritime patrol aircraft, equipped with sensors and weapons systems for anti-submarine warfare, as well as surveillance and search and rescue missions.

The Poseidon’s comprehensive mission system features an APY-10 radar with modes for high-resolution mapping, an acoustic sensor system, including passive and multi-static sonobuoys, electro-optical/IR turret and electronic support measures (ESM).  This equipment delivers comprehensive search and tracking capability, while the aircraft’s weapons system includes torpedoes for engaging sub-surface targets.

A400M

The AIRBUS A400M Atlas has taken over primacy as the predominant RAF air movements platform since the recent decommissioning of the Hercules C130.

The A400 has played a major role in recent RAF operations, most notably Operation Pitting, the Kabul evacuation in August 2021, where the UK Government with little notice deployed UK Armed Forces to initially evacuate 2.5k entitled personnel. Given the challenging nature of the evacuation due to the precipitating security conditions, 15,375 entitled personnel were eventually evacuated. This became UKAF biggest operation since the Berlin Airlift.

More recently the A400 demonstrated its utility once again by participating in Operation Polar Bear, the recent Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) in Sudan. Doing much of the heavy lifting, the A400 contributed to the evacuation of more than 2,000 people. Its short take off landing capability renders it suitable to these type of operations, particularly accessing what would be otherwise difficult and unorthodox runways impossible for other aircraft.

Spitfire

The Spitfire is the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It became a symbol of freedom during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain. It was the highest performing Allied aircraft in 1940.

The crowds at the 1936 RAF Display at Hendon had a first glimpse of the prototype Spitfire in the New Types Park but it was not until August 1938 that production Spitfires began to enter service. By the outbreak of war, a year later, nine squadrons were equipped. In spite of vigorous demands from the France the Commander in Chief of Fighter Command refused to send any Spitfires to France during the German Blitzkrieg of 1940. The wisdom of that decision was clearly shown. By July 1940 RAF Fighter Command had nineteen Spitfire MkI squadrons available.

Once the RAF modified their tactics to properly counter the Luftwaffe, the Spitfire MkI proved to be the only British fighter capable of meeting the Messerschmitt Bf109E on equal terms. Often the outcome of a combat depended more on the quality of the pilot than his aircraft.

Further improvements in performance were made by fitting new type propellers, known as constant speed units, and modifying the Merlin engine to run on 100 octane fuel.

More Spitfires were built than any other British combat aircraft before or since World War II - 20,341 in total. The spitfire flying today is a MK9.

RAF Falcons

The Falcons are the UK’s premier military parachute display team, based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, they display at venues all over Britain and Europe throughout the year. They have performed many times for the Royal Family and heads of state and set records and introduced many exciting innovations into formation skydiving.

The Royal Air Force is responsible for training and supporting all UK Airborne Forces. As well as providing a distinctive demonstration of freefall and canopy skills during the display season, each Falcons Team member undertakes continual advanced training as Parachute Jumping Instructors in preparation for future employment in support of the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines and other specialist units.

The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team is the only centrally funded, professional, military parachute display team in the UK. Their exciting free fall display, which includes advanced manoeuvres, falling at speeds up to 120mph, and their famous 'hybrid' display which includes the Heart and Crisscross Carousel, which manages to captivate all spectators.