RAF Valley's Texan T1 flies over Bangor to honour 'the Few'

The aircraft cut low over the city as part of the Royal Air Force Valley’s annual service remembering the sacrifices of ‘the Few’ who fought off the mass of 2,700 German Luftwaffe aircraft during the 1940 Battle of Britain.

At the sombre cathedral service (on Saturday, September 16), the names of all North Wales airmen who perished in the fierce three month aerial battle were read out by RAF Valley chaplain the Reverend Sqn Ldr Mike Hall. It was after the prolonged air-battle that wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill broadcast the historic quotation: ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’.

The sombre cathedral service took place on Saturday, September 16 (Image: Sgt Beth Roberts)
Local dignitaries were led by the Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd, Edmund Seymour-Bailey, Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie and leader of Gwynedd Council, County Councillor Medwyn Hughes. Mayors from umpteen Anglesey and Gwynedd towns were led by Bangor City Councillor Mark Roberts standing in for Mayor Elin Walker-Jones.

Cllr Mark Roberts who represented Bangor City Council said: "After 83 years it’s perhaps easy for us to forget just how close Britain came to being ruled by a monsterous Nazi Reich and for all its noise complaints, the ‘Howler’ training aircraft plays a critical part in producing the next generation of ‘the Few’.

Supporters enjoyed the surroundings of the magnificent St Deiniols Cathedral and its choir (Image: Sgt Beth Roberts)
"God forbid that they will be called sacrifice their lives too."

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An RAF Valley spokesman said: "Battle of Britain Day is clearly a most important date in the RAF calendar and it was a privilege to be able to share this with the people of Bangor who turned out to support us - as well as enjoy the surroundings of the magnificent St Deiniols Cathedral and its sublime Choir. 

"In particular, Valley strives to keep alive the memory of the 67 Welsh pilots who are numbered amongst Churchill’s 'Few'. 

"We have named aircraft and also some of our facilities in honour of these Welsh heroes; such as Sgt Glyn Griffiths of Llandudno and Sub Lt Jack Carpenter from Ynys Mon - who was killed in the battle."