One of the RAF Red Arrows experienced a bird strike while en route to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffordshire. The affected pilot returned safely to Bournemouth, and the planned flypast proceeded with eight aircraft instead of the usual nine-jet formation.
The incident occurred as the aerobatic display team headed to honour veterans on VJ Day - Victory over Japan Day - which marks the date in 1945 when Japan surrendered to Allied forces, ending World War Two. Despite the disruption, the commemorative flypast successfully took place as scheduled.
Pilot reflects on honour
Flight Lieutenant George Hobday, pilot of Red 7, described flying for the veterans on VJ Day as "humbling" and "an absolute honour". He emphasised the significance of the commemorative mission, saying: "It's always extraordinary. There's a lot of planning that goes into these things. We're always focused on putting the best possible flypast."
Hobday added: "It's always really special to be a part of." The pilot's comments highlight the emotional weight of performing for veterans who served during World War Two.
Operational excellence continues
Hours after the VJ Day incident, all nine Red Arrows jets performed at Eastbourne International Airshow in East Sussex. According to Metro, the team performed at 4:30pm following a specific route through Nettlestone Point, Brighton, Lewes and Wilmington during the airshow that ran from 1pm to 5pm.
The seamless transition from the morning's commemorative duty to the afternoon airshow demonstrates the team's operational resilience and professional excellence under pressure.
Six decades of precision flying
The Red Arrows have exhibited their signature diamond nine formation and combination of close formations, flypasts and precision flying since 1965. Metro reports the team relocated from RAF Scampton to RAF Waddington in late 2022 after 40 years at their previous base.
The National Memorial Arboretum serves as Britain's dedicated site for commemorating those who served in conflicts, making the VJ Day flypast particularly significant for veterans and their families.
Sources used: "BBC", "Metro" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
