The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will soar over Rutland Flower Show this afternoon
RAF Coningsby aircraft to commemorate Victory over Japan Day.
Rutland is marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day with poignant tributes to those who served - and those who never returned.
Today, the wartime legacy takes centre stage in the national commemorations. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - based at RAF Coningsby - will take part in a flypast from Southend-on-Sea to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where the King and Queen will join veterans for a service of remembrance. The aircraft will also be passing over Rutland Flower Show.
The event will bring together 33 veterans aged between 96 and 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific. Their experiences span from jungle warfare in Burma to dangerous naval operations and combat flying.
A national two-minute silence will be observed, followed by flypasts from both the Red Arrows and the Memorial Flight’s Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.
"We describe ourselves as a museum without walls," said Squadron Leader Mark Sutton.
"Bringing these airplanes to life and actually putting them into their natural environment and giving people the opportunity to see and hear them.
"I don't think there is a better sight or a better sound," he added.
For Lincolnshire, VJ Day carries a special significance - not only marking the end of the war but also honouring the county’s deep ties to the RAF and its sacrifices during the conflict.
Emily Walton has grown up in Coninsby, where the Battle of Britian Memorial Flight is based. Now, she works as a researcher for the Air Historical Branch, "I always feel quite proud watching the aircraft," she said.
"There is something very special knowing that you are from the county that maintain and support these aircraft.
"Knowing that Lincolnshire, an often overlooked county perhaps in the UK, often forgotten, it has a huge role in the future of the RAF.
"It's important to remember how many young men lost their lives flying from this county, and the percentage from Bomber Command from just Lincolnshire is huge - just under half were lost."
The service at the National Memorial Arboretum will be broadcast live on BBC One from 11.30am, hosted by actress and author Celia Imrie.