A Dramatic event to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day took place at a former RAF base last night. 

A parachute drop and flypast formed part of the commemoration at RAF Down Ampney, as well as a memorial parade and service on yesterday, Wednesday, June 5.

Photos by Simon Pizzey - for all 39 photos, see our picture gallery.

Special permission to hold the once-in-a-lifetime event at the former base was obtained by The Reverend Canon John Swanton, Rector of Ampney Churches.

RAF Down Ampney was based on the outskirts of the village and was operational from February 1944 to February 1947.

The base was home to around 3,000 personnel. It was from there that RAF 48 and 271 Squadrons Douglas Dakotas flew on major missions.

Down Ampney was part of a group of airfields dedicated to air transportation, alongside RAF Broadwell and RAF Blakehill Farm.

 

Henry Law, ten dressed as an evacuee with his sisters Amelia Law,  fifteen and Hattie Law, thirteen.

 

L to R;  Pam Varey, Down Ampney village historian with the model of a Dakota, and  Jackie Scuri with a crocheted Dakota

Rowland Rogers, from Cirencester, former Colour Sergeant Parachute Regiment, Major in the Army Cadet Force, salutes the fly past by an A400