TWO Spitfires have been added to the line-up in the skies over the Isle of Wight for Armed Forces Day.

As previously reported, the Red Arrows are already on the Air Asset bill, and now the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has been added.

It will be eyes to the skies on Sunday, June 30.

Event organiser and the Isle of Wight's Armed Forces Champion Ian Dore said: "Last year's Spitfire display left an indelible impression on many and you couldn't have asked for more. Well, we did.

"The aviation history the Island boasts is something to be incredibly proud of, especially when it comes to the Spitfire. For this year’s event, we had to go one plane further making it really special. 

"The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is sending two aircraft to perform a chase display. Like the Red Arrows, this is a full display and feature two classic warbirds, going through their moves one chasing the other.

"The display routine is identical to the singleton fighter display, but is flown with a combination of any fighter aircraft, displaying in 100ft to 200ft trail; slightly displaced to avoid prop-wash.

"It is as dramatic as it is exciting and depending on the aircraft available on the day, it could be two Spitfires or one Spitfire and a Hurricane.”

Fishbourne Parish Council is sponsoring this element of the event. The ward has a war memorial on which a number of RAF personnel are commemorated.

One such individual is Sgt Edmund Eric Shepperd who joined the RAF in 1935.

During the Battle of Britain, as a Sergeant Pilot with 152 Sqn, he was credited with the destruction of various German aircraft including a ME109, three Junkers and a Stuka.

In October, 1940, he was killed instantly when his Spitfire crashed as he was returning to his base at RAF Warmwell in Dorset. He was buried in the same cemetery as his father, who died during the First World War.

Ian Dore added: "War should never be glorified or celebrated, but remembered and commemorated. Along with many others, we are forever in Sgt Shepperd's debt.

"As we look to the skies to catch sight of the display, let us not lose sight of that debt. As they tip their wingtips, let us tip our hats to those that never returned."