Latest news with #RAFBrizeNorton
Belfast Telegraph
01-05-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
RAF veteran, 99, will remember friends ‘who didn't make it' on VE Day
A 99-year-old RAF veteran said he will be remembering friends 'who didn't make it like I did' through the Second World War on VE Day. Dennis Bishop, a former leading aircraftsman who saw active service in France, Belgium, Germany and Africa, visited RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Wednesday as it prepares for the VE Day flypast on Monday.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Brize Norton to host RAFA charity cycling event in summer
Cyclists of all ages and abilities are being given the chance to ride inside the country's largest RAF base as part of a charity event this Brize Norton in Oxfordshire is due to host RAFA Rides - the Royal Air Forces Association's (RAFA) global cycling event - on 21 are able to choose between routes of 25, 50, 75 and 100 Clark-Brown, RAFA associate director of fundraising and engagement, said the event was "a key moment in the military charity cycling events calendar". The money raised through RAFA Rides events goes towards the association's work providing help and support to thousands of RAF personnel and their familiesIt is now in its eighth year and the charity says it "connects thousands of riders across the world through a shared purpose and passion". Five thousand riders from across the world have taken part in it so far. RAF Brize Norton will be one of its four UK hosts this year, along with RAF Marham in Norfolk and RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, as well as Kendrew Barracks in charity said the RAF Brize Norton rides would give participants the chance to cycle through the Cotswolds scenery and even go inside the wire of the Clark-Brown added that it "not only fosters a deep sense of connection between riders, but it also encourages participants to invest in their own physical and mental wellbeing".The charity reported that the event raised £150,000 in 2024. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Largest all-female RAF flypast marks new display
The largest all-female RAF flypast has marked the unveiling of a new museum exhibition remembering the role of women in war. An A400M crew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire joined a Prefect T1 and Eurofighter Typhoon in the historic flypast. The demonstration marked the unveiling of the new Women in War exhibition at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. Ten steel silhouettes of women during wartime, created by Witney-based Standing with Giants, feature in the exhibition. Standing with Giants was previously responsible for the display of 1,475 figures in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day last year. Every aircraft in the flypast marking the opening of the new display was flown by an all-female crew, making it the largest flypast performed solely by female aircrew. The Atlas A400M from RAF Brize Norton was captained by Sqn Ldr Stewart, who previously flew an all-female crew over Wembley ahead of the Lionesses' European Championship Final victory over Germany in 2022. "Today was really important to me because it gave us a chance to honour the work that women have done before us," she said. "To commemorate and celebrate the pioneering work of women in defence that came before was so important to me." She said it was a "fantastic atmosphere on the flight deck" with everyone on-board "really proud to put on a good show". Following the flypast, the crews of the A400M and Prefect landed at nearby RAF Waddington to meet guests on the ground and take in the display for themselves. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Hero nurse among 10 WW2 women being commemorated D-Day servicemen silhouettes return from Normandy Royal Air Force
BBC News
19-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
RAF Brize Norton crew leads largest ever all-female flypast
The largest all-female RAF flypast has marked the unveiling of a new museum exhibition remembering the role of women in A400M crew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire joined a Prefect T1 and Eurofighter Typhoon in the historic demonstration marked the unveiling of the new Women in War exhibition at the International Bomber Command Centre in steel silhouettes of women during wartime, created by Witney-based Standing with Giants, feature in the exhibition. Standing with Giants was previously responsible for the display of 1,475 figures in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day last year. Every aircraft in the flypast marking the opening of the new display was flown by an all-female crew, making it the largest flypast performed solely by female Atlas A400M from RAF Brize Norton was captained by Sqn Ldr Stewart, who previously flew an all-female crew over Wembley ahead of the Lionesses' European Championship Final victory over Germany in 2022."Today was really important to me because it gave us a chance to honour the work that women have done before us," she said."To commemorate and celebrate the pioneering work of women in defence that came before was so important to me." She said it was a "fantastic atmosphere on the flight deck" with everyone on-board "really proud to put on a good show".Following the flypast, the crews of the A400M and Prefect landed at nearby RAF Waddington to meet guests on the ground and take in the display for themselves. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Son 'overwhelmed' as WW2 mum's statue unveiled
The son of a woman who served in World War Two was "overwhelmed" when a statue of her was unveiled as military planes flew overhead. David Hourigan watched as his mother Margaret's statue was uncovered at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln on Friday. The statue of Margaret is one of 10 8ft-tall (2.4m) silhouettes of women who had served during WW2 which have gone on display. Typhoon and Atlas aircraft, crewed only by women, took part in a flypast to mark the opening of the exhibition at the museum. Mr Hourigan, who flew from Australia for the event, said his mother died a year ago at the age of 101. When he saw the statue of her, he said: "It was like meeting the real person again. I found that very hard because it was so much like her and, because she's standing on English soil, I thought she has come home." The ten steel sculptures, made by Standing with Giants, pay tribute to wartime women, such as pioneering physicist Joan Curran and WW2 pilot Lettice Curtis. The first flypast to mark their unveiling was from 57 squadron at RAF Cranwell. They were followed by an Atlas 400M from RAF Brize Norton and one Typhoon from XI (Fighter) Squadron from RAF Coningsby. Nicky van der Drift, chief executive of the IBCC, said: "We are proud to honour the women who played such a vital role in protecting the freedoms we enjoy today." The new exhibition, marking International Women's Month, will be a permanent installation at the IBCC's memorial spire. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Remarkable women of WW2 to be celebrated Wartime bravery of ambulance women revealed in photos Project reveals 'forgotten' WW2 US Red Cross women International Bomber Command Centre
