Derby flypast to mark Battle of Britain anniversary

The flypast is one of several events nationwide to mark the 70th anniversary of the famous battle

Planes used during the Second World War are to fly over Derby to mark 70 years since the Battle of Britain.

A Spitfire and Dakota from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight centre in Lincolnshire will pass over the city on consecutive afternoons.

The Spitfire, which was powered by a Merlin engine built at Rolls-Royce in Derby, will fly over at 1420 BST on Saturday.

And the Dakota will do the same at 1452 BST on Sunday.

The Spitfire first took to the skies in 1936 and remains an iconic aircraft

The Battle of Britain was a lengthy and hard-fought campaign which saw Britain's Royal Air Force defend the country against a sustained attack from the German Luftwaffe in the summer and autumn of 1940.

From July to October, hundreds of British Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes squared up against the German Messerschmitt fighters.

Germany's failure to destroy Britain's air defences is seen as its first major operational failure of the war and a significant turning point in the conflict.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight centre is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

As well as Spitfires, the centre has Hurricanes, a Lancaster and two Chipmunks.