Rotorua war veterans, their families and young pilots in training turned their thoughts to fallen heroes at the weekend to remember those who fought in the Battle of Britain.
A commemoration service was held at St Faith's Anglican church at Ohinemutu yesterday.
Rotorua's Reg Wellington, former 22nd Fighter Squadron pilot in the
Pacific, said everyone there knew someone who had made the ultimate sacrifice.
"They were people you knew and mates who never returned," Mr Wellington said. "We are all getting old now but always enjoy our time together."
Rotorua took time to remember the 544 British and Commonwealth pilots who died in the conflict and the 31 brave men from Rotorua who fought and died in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.
Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Association, the Air Training Corps and Te Arawa Maori Returned Services League attended the commemoration and laid a wreath at the Muruika Services Cemetery.
The Battle of Britain was the first major air battle of World War II, as the seemingly invincible Nazi war machine tried to bomb Britain into submission.
Fought during the summer and autumn of 1940, the Nazi plan failed, with much of the credit for the successful defence of the British Isles going to New Zealand's Air Vice-Marshall Sir Keith Park.
Park, born in Thames, commanded 11 Group Fighter Command and was in charge of the air defence of London and southeast England in 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain.
Battle of Britain Day is commemorated in the United Kingdom on September 15.
In New Zealand Battle of Britain Day is observed on the third Sunday in September.
