In pictures: IWM Duxford Summer Air Show displays mark 80 years since D-Day

Special displays commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings were enjoyed by a huge crowd at the Duxford Summer Air Show last Saturday and Sunday (1-2 June).

Round canopy parachutists loaded on to Douglas C47s, known as the Dakota in the RAF and Commonwealth services, which were used widely by the Allies as transport aircraft.

A Supermarine Spitfire N3200 and wing walkers from Aerosuperbatics were among the other attractions.

And the RAF Red Arrows display team also performed during the show at Imperial War Museum.

Duxford, an airfield in the First World War, was an RAF fighter station and then an American fighter base in the Second World War.

Adam Kendall, head of commercial services at IWM Duxford, said: “The Duxford Summer Air Show proved that, come rain or shine, it really is a fantastic day out for visitors.

“This year, the event took on additional significance as we marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day with commemorative displays and the chance to see Dakotas in the air.

“We also had spectacular acts such as the Rafale, wing walkers and Red Arrows – there really was something for everyone.

“We’d like to thank our 40,000 visitors for coming along and supporting the museum and hope to see many of you again for our Battle of Britain Air Show in September.”

The parachutists involved in the weekend display flew across the Channel on Sunday to Cherbourg in France, to join the commemorations of the Normandy landings, which took place on June 6, 1944.

Hundreds of armed forces personnel were due to parachute on the eve of the anniversary into an historic D-Day drop zone in France to recreate the airborne liberation of Normandy 80 years ago.

But Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft are not expected to fly in the commemorations, amid an investigation into the death of a pilot in a Spitfire crash, the RAF has said.

The King, Queen and Prince of Wales are due to attend a number of events in Normandy today (Thursday). Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will join Charles and Camilla at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.

[Read more: In pictures: IWM Duxford’s Battle of Britain air show takes off]

For more information on IWM Duxford, visit iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford.