Battle of Britain - 50th Anniversary

Saturday 15th September 1990. 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the RAF put on the biggest commemorative airshow for the event over London, flying up the Mall straight at Buckingham Palace.
 
Opening with all Airworthy Spitfires and Hurricanes available
Opening with all Airworthy Spitfires and Hurricanes available
The fly past opened with every airworthy Spitfire and Hurricane in the UK that day. Then if a Squadron fought in the battle and was still in existence - it sent aircraft for the fly past. It was flown at "zero feet" - which the announcers mentioned was the lowest each aircraft type was prepared to fly. 
 
Lancaster
BBMF Lancaster
 
1940 Squadrons still flying sent aircraft
1940 Squadrons still flying sent aircraft
 
Canberras!
Canberras!
 
Nimrod
Nimrod
 
 
C130-Hercules
C130 - Hercules
 
VC10 - Tankers
VC10 - Tankers
 
Red Arrows - still flying the Folland Gnat in those days
Red Arrows - still flying the Folland Gnat in those days
 
 
To close - the oldest Spitfire and Hurricane which had been at the front had peeled back and came up the rear to close.  Pre-digital - this was all shot on film with no previews like we can do now to check exposure. To add to the difficulties - I was under trees on the Mall and many shots were fired blind - timed (basically "guessed") based on the approaching roar of camera shutter noise rolling up the Mall!  This Spitfire was a lot lower than I focused for!
 
Spitfire in the tree tops
Spitfire in the tree tops
 
 
Hurricane was not much better
Hurricane was not much better
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and hand to "Jink" round Buckingham Palace
and had to "Jink" round Buckingham Palace
 
Later in the night - The City of London was "blitzed" by a fireworks display.
 
St Paul's 1940 Blitz
St Paul's 1940 Blitz
 
Air Raid Sirens sounded.  Searchlights started to probe the sky
Air Raid Sirens sounded.  Searchlights started to probe the sky
St Paul's was wreathed in "smoke and fire" again
St Paul's was wreathed in "smoke and fire" again
 
Incendiaries burned
Incendiaries burned
It was quite a day.