Team Vandenberg Commemorates the Battle of Britain

  • Published
  • By Stacie Shafran
  • U.S. Space Forces - Space
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Members of the Team Vandenberg community gathered for a Battle of Britain Dinner here Aug. 28, 2026, to commemorate the Allied aircrew whose defense of the United Kingdom helped shape the course of World War II.

Royal Air Force Wing Commander Tim Bailey, liaison officer to U.S. Space Command, organized and hosted the dinner, which brought together U.S. and international partners for an evening of remembrance, fellowship and ceremonial tradition.

The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies over the United Kingdom in 1940. Royal Air Force aircrew, known as “the Few,” defended the country against the German Luftwaffe. Their success denied Nazi Germany air superiority, helped prevent a seaborne invasion and preserved the United Kingdom as a base for future Allied operations.

“The Battle of Britain is still remembered today as our Finest Hour,” said Bailey. “This was a victory hard won not by British aircrew alone, but as one with our sister air forces from across the Commonwealth, and with so many airmen who had escaped from occupied territories.  Had those men and women not held the line in 1940 the light of freedom and democracy would have gone out in Europe. Along with my Australian and Canadian colleagues, we remember the sacrifice of the Few every year – and it’s a story and a tradition that we wanted to share with our US Allies.”

The dinner incorporated traditions intended to honor the aircrew and nations represented during the battle. Guests stood for participating nations’ national anthems, offered a toast in honor of the fallen and observed the playing of the Royal Air Force March Past.

Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant Rob Michie, liaison officer to U.S. Space Command, read an account by Sergeant Arty Holmes, No. 504 Squadron Royal Air Force Reserve, providing attendees a personal connection to the service and sacrifice of those who participated in the Battle of Britain.

“Sergeant Holmes’ story is truly inspirational – a Volunteer Reservist who answered his country’s call in the dark days of the 1930s when the tide of war began to lap at our shores,” said Michie. “During the Battle, while attempting to engage a bomber lining up on Buckingham Palace, he realized he was out of ammunition. Instead of breaking off and returning to base, he pressed home his attack – and with no thought for his own safety, rammed the enemy aircraft.  His story reminds us all that service is selfless. Those airmen were often ordinary people like us, but performed extraordinary acts of bravery. We remember their stories to keep them alive, and to inspire us to keep the flame of excellence burning.”

The observance also reflected the enduring relationships among allied and partner nations. Royal Canadian Air Force Maj. Gen. Kyle C. Paul, U.S. Space Command’s deputy Combined Joint Force Space Component commander, and German Air Force Lt. Col. Sascha Jagush, liaison officer to U.S. Space Command, offered remarks during the dinner.

Service members from across the Team Vandenberg community participated in the event, which included the playing of U.S. armed services’ songs, including “Semper Supra,” the U.S. Space Force song.

Through the dinner, Team Vandenberg honored the courage and sacrifice of “the Few” while recognizing the enduring value of partnership, collective defense and shared commitment among today’s air and space forces.
 
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