Battle of Britain Commemoration 2022: RAAF pilots take to Hobart’s skies
Talented Royal Australian Air Force pilots will take to the sky on Sunday and commemorate the Battle of Britain in a special but sombre fashion. DETAILS >>
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Talented Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots will take to the skies of Hobart on Sunday and commemorate the Battle of Britain in a special but sombre fashion as the state mourns the passing of the Queen.
The Battle of Britain, fought between the air forces of the Commonwealth and the air force of Nazi Germany in the 1940s, saved the United Kingdom from imminent invasion during World War II.
A 23-year-old Tasmanian flight commander was shot down off the coast of England on August 11, 1940, during the battle.
He is the only Tasmanian to appear in a memorial book resting in the Battle of Britain Chapel at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen’s family was holed up in Buckingham Palace during the battle, as bombs rained down and damaged its grounds.
The Tasmania Division of the RAAF Association has commemorated the 82nd anniversary of the battle across the weekend, holding a remembrance service at St David’s Cathedral on Saturday and a wreath-laying ceremony on Sunday.
The ceremony will be followed by a spectacular display featuring some of Australia’s most talented pilots.
The Air Force Roulettes, otherwise known as RAAF’s aerobatic display team, are lucky enough to have Hobart’s Ben Hepworth in their ranks.
The Roulettes fly as low as 80m at speeds of up to 700km/h and the pilots, who are only metres apart from each other, can experience up to six times the force of gravity.
Flight Lieutenant Hepworth said the Roulettes travel Australia to represent the RAAF and will be participating in the “special” commemoration on Sunday at midday.
“There will be a fly-past of the Cenotaph of the (AP-3C Orion) aircraft and then there will be a Roulette display over Constitution Dock, so a 15-minute aerobic display by the six of us,” Lieut. Hepworth said.
“To come back to Tassie and fly around Tassie is awesome.”
Burnie’s Mathew Schmidt, a Hawk 127 lead-in fighter pilot, will not be taking to the air this weekend but will be supporting the AP-3C Orion and the Roulette pilots.
“I’m also from Tasmania so it’s really good to come home with the air force,” he said.
“I’m based out at Newcastle … so the opportunity to come home is few and far between.
“It’s good to come down and showcase some of the aircraft that the air force do have.”
And RAAF cadets and siblings, Campbell, 16, and Charlotte Smith, 15, from Mount Nelson will join their fellow cadets to take part in a parade at the ceremony.
“It’s good for air force cadets because we go out and we all participate,” Charlotte said.
Upon turning 18, the pair hope to be able to join the Australian Defence Force.
“We’re only a year apart in age, so we’ve kinda been brought up like twins, so we kinda do a lot together.”
Originally published as Battle of Britain Commemoration 2022: RAAF pilots take to Hobart’s skies
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