422nd ABG participates in Battle of Britain parade

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  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
BANBURY, United Kingdom --  More than 35 U.S. Air Force servicemen from RAF Croughton showed solidarity with their British Royal Air Force (RAF) counterparts Sept. 15 by joining the annual Battle of Britain anniversary parade through the village of Banbury.

The American Airmen joined members of the Banbury RAF Association and the 1460 Banbury Air Cadet Squadron on a march from the town hall to St Mary's Church for a commemorative service paying tribute to the hundreds of RAF servicemen who died flying missions against German fighter aircraft in their attempt to gain supremacy of the skies over England in 1941.

"It has been a very moving service today and we are greatly indebted to Colonel Hamilton and the USAF personnel from Croughton for joining us," said Banbury Town Mayor Nicholas Turner. "The great breadth of people who are here is fantastic for the town and the significance of Banbury to the war effort should never be forgotten - a large percentage of the aluminum for the planes was manufactured at the former Alcan plant."