D-Day 80: Daedalus ex-Navy airfield commemorations announced

On D-Day the then HMS Daedalus airfield was the busiest in the country

Plans to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at an ex-Navy airfield have been announced.

Fareham Borough Council will hold a two-day event on 8 and 9 June at Daedalus - now Solent Airport - near Lee-on-the-Solent.

On D-Day the then HMS Daedalus airfield was the busiest in the country.

Over the two days visitors will be able to see static aircraft and flying displays, field gun runs, marching bands and historical re-enactments.

Musicians, funfair rides, motorcycle stunts and vehicles from the time of D-Day will also feature.

The D-Day landings remain the largest amphibious invasion in military history

Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said Daedalus was a "particularly poignant location" for commemorating the Normandy Landings.

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On 6th June 1944, more than 400 missions were flown from the airbase by what Mr Woodward described as "extraordinarily brave pilots", in Spitfires, Mustangs and Typhoons.

The ticketed commemoration follows previous events in honour of the airfields 100th anniversary in 2017, and in 2019 for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

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