laststandonzombieisland

During the 16 weeks in the late summer and early fall of 1940, the RAF took on the so-far undefeated Luftwaffe over the skies of the British Isles and inflicted the first true defeat suffered by the Germans in WWII. Those scrappy handfuls of Commonwealth (and a few American, Polish, Czech and French) pilots and accompanying ground artillery were able to down some 1887 German aircraft and forestall an invasion of the UK.

These pilots included over 100 Canadians of the RCAF’s No. 1 Squadron (later renamed 401 Squadron) and the Royal Air Force’s 242 “All Canadian” Squadron, of whom 23 lost their lives.

In honoring these airmen, the CF-18 Demonstration Hornet of the RCAF this year is a 1940 throwback:

“The top side paint scheme is patterned after the early 1940s earth tone and dark green camouflage used on Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Hawker Hurricane Mark IIs and Supermarine Spitfires during the Battle of Britain.”

This year’s CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Aircraft, seen here at 3 Wing Bagotville on March 30th, 2015, commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Image: LS Alex Roy, Atelier d’imagerie Bagotville. BN01-2015-0189-002 CLICK TO BIG UP

This year’s CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Aircraft gets towed out to the flight line after it’s unveiling at CFB Bagotville in Saguenay, Qué. on March 27th, 2015. Click to big up

The 2015 CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Aircraft is unveiled at a ceremony held at 3 Wing Bagotville in Saguenay, Québec on 27 March 2015. Image: LS Alex Roy, Atelier d’imagerie Bagotville.a BN01-2015-0186-005 CLICK TO BIG UP

The CF-18 is from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron “Skylarks” (425e Escadron d’appui tactique, “Alouette”) who flew Wellingtons during WWII