Over the last few weeks there has been a regular humming of fighter planes flying over the Isle of Wight. The Island has been witnessing several ‘fly pasts’ including Spitfires encouraging much talk about the D-Day special celebrations commencing on June 5th in Portsmouth. With fingers crossed for clear skies we are about to witness one of the biggest military events in the South.
HM the Queen, President Donald Trump, Theresa May and hundreds of veterans will be attending Services in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in History. On Wednesday 5th June Military Aircraft heading to Portsmouth for the D-Day celebrations should be seen from the Isle of Wight as they fly around the Island and up the Solent. The flypast will include up to 25 RAF Aircraft including Spitfires.
The flypast will form over the English Channel between 12pm and 12.45 so have your binoculars at the ready!
At 16.15 (subject to weather) the Red Arrows will fly over Southsea Common and may also be seen from the Island.
Later on MV Boudicca will depart from Portsmouth with 300 D-Day Veterans on board, representing the famous crossings that took place all those years ago. It will pause and anchor at Ventnor.
For many pilots and servicemen Ventnor, Isle of Wight would have been the last place in the UK they saw as they headed off to battle.
MV Boudicca, accompanied by a Royal Navy escort ship will stand off the coast of Ventnor for a special Service in the bay before heading off to the Normandy Beaches just before sunset.
Ventnor town is celebrating with several events along the foreshore in acknowledgement the important role RAF Ventnor played.
Further information on timings and special events may be found on https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/whats-on/d-day-75-commemorative-events-5-june-p1692021