VE & VJ Day 2025

The first 40 minutes of this programme from 2015 were very good re memories of VE day, bonfires in the street, other celebrations:

VE Day 70 - 1. Remembering Victory - BBC iPlayer

Definitely not bonfires in the street - many restricted areas in and around The Mall - planned for Monday -

How to watch the VE Day procession and flypast (5 May 2025)

Strand, St. Paul's or Eaton Place might be a better place to view the flypast in central London.



Back in the day:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205189170

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205732659

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...Size=&media-records=records-with-media&page=0

 

Just seen the Lancaster leave Waddington.

Too late to get a photo

The Reds have just left Waddington.

 

Bad luck.

At 5. 04 .07 at the recording on You Tube here:

Fortunately there were several live streams without commentary: just sounds of the day in central London, and cameras shaking in the wind.

 

I do have one grumble about the flypast...just one wartime aircraft??

 

From what I heard was that the Spitfire and Hurricane didn't fly because of very strong crosswinds at Coningsby.

Lesley

 

So they were actually planned to fly then?

 

News from the WAVE (Waddington Aircraft Viewing Enclosure) was that the Lancaster had to wait a while for the wind to drop, before it could take off.....it was a bit gusty up here yesterday.

 

I've no idea.

 

I wish we had events like this over here.

 

I haven't seen anything scheduled.

I can't remember ever seeing an active duty military unit marching in a parade, except for cadet parades on the West Point field. Might have been some after the Gulf War.

 

2025 BBMF schedule for anyone interested.:

BBMF Display Schedule 2025 Dates, Venues, Timings - Military Airshows News & Press Releases.

Best.
John.

 

That's very good to see. A few in our region we might be able to get to.

 

One VE80 photo exhibition up and running in Gorran Haven, Cornwall

 

Ken Cooke, D-Day Veteran
D-Day veteran on returning to Normandy on VE Day 80th anniversary

 

Eric by Derek Barton posted May 9, 2025 at 1:13 PM

Just returned from our Veterans VE Day Brunch at Wigan Armed Forces Community HQ. A good turnout (not entirely due to the free bacon/sausage butty and a brew). Quite a few of the staff were in 40's dress and many members in regimental gear (Blazer, Beret and Medals). The guest of honour was our oldest member and only surviving WW2 veteran (probably Wigan's only as well), Eric Radcliffe. Eric is 100 years young and was a tank driver in the Grenadier Guards. He served in 6 Guards Armoured Brigade in NW Europe starting in a Crusader AA and finishing in a Churchill. Eric has had a busy week attending events around the Borough but found both the time and the energy to join us this morning. I was priveleged to spend some time chatting with him and looking at some photos he had brought with him.

 

VE Day lunch in our village. My Son and I put together a good display inside the Hall and we parked our truck outside, lots of interest from passers by and so many people stopping to chat. It was great for us to talk to those who were alive and recalled VE Day, some of the stories were lovely.

 

Tried to post a video of the view from the bomb aimer’s position as it flew over the Palace, but each time I try it brings this up:



Yet when I click on it in my favourites list, it plays just fine. Weird. It’s on Vimeo. I didn’t log in to watch it, I’ve not got an account, must be a Vimeo thing. I got the link in a newsletter my brother sent me from the BBMF, he’s a member, so maybe it only works directly from that link.

This one will have to do: