Birds strike Red Arrows jet before VJ Day flypast

The Red Arrows performed with eight jets during their flypast over the National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield, Staffordshire

One of the RAF Red Arrows experienced a bird strike on the way to a flypast on Friday.

The aerobatic display team were headed to the National Memorial Arboretum, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, when the strike happened.

In a social media post the RAF confirmed the pilot "returned safely to Bournemouth" and the planned flypast went ahead as an eight aircraft formation.

Hours later, all nine jets were performing at Eastbourne International Airshow, East Sussex.

Flight Lieutenant George Hobday, pilot of Red 7, described flying for the veterans on VJ Day as "humbling" and "an absolute honour".

He said: "It's always extraordinary. There's a lot of planning that goes into these things. We're always focused on putting the best possible flypast.

"It's always really special to be a part of."

VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, is marked each year on 15 August - the date in 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces and World War Two ended.

The Red Arrows have exhibited a diamond nine shape and a combination of close formations, flypasts and precision flying since 1965.

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