A military aircraft display has been held at Keevil Airfield to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Several military aircraft were on show during the event held on Wednesday, June 5 including Apache, Wildcat, Merlin and Watchkeeper RPAS.

Visitors were able to look around and speak to the aircrew who all talked about the aircraft and aspects of flight.

Keevil Airfield was formally transferred to the Americans in 1943 as Station 471, however they relinquished control in 1944 and it was used for special missions and the D-Day landings.

READ MORE: Trowbridge and Keevil prepare to commemorate D-Day 80th anniversary

Keevil Airfield marks D-Day anniversary. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Up until March 1944 the airfield was used by the US Air Force, but following their relocation the RAF located two squadrons (Nos. 196 and 299) of Stirling aircrafts at the airfield, and shortly after they were joined by a mass of Horsa Gliders.

On the night of June 5/6, 46 Stirlings took off from Keevil. They were crewed by men of the British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and South African Air Forces.

They each carried 20 paratroops to secure the eastern banks of the River Orne, where they landed in the early hours of D-Day, June 6.

They were among the very first Allied troops to land in France on D-Day. During the landings, two aircraft were lost.

The surviving planes returned to Keevil Airfield for the crew members of 38 Group RAF to catch up on sleep, while their aircraft were refuelled and serviced.

Seventeen Stirlings of 196 Squadron and 16 of 299 Squadron returned to Normandy on the evening of June 6.

SEE ALSO: Keevil Airfield played a key role in D-Day

They headed across the Channel towing the Horsa Gliders, which were loaded with light infantry troops and equipment. The gliders were then released and landed west of the Caen Canal.

It was then the soldiers’ job to unload and set up six and seventeen pounder anti-tank guns to defend the Allied Forces airborne invasion at Pegasus Bridge.

All of 196 Squadron returned but 299 Squadron lost one aircraft after releasing its glider.

The glider crashed on landing, killing the pilot, and the Stirling was seen hitting the water in flames on the return flight, with the loss of the six-man crew.