• Swindon & Wiltshire Events
• Wednesday April 30 2025

Spitfire flypast to mark VE Day celebrations at Wiltshire village

A Spitfire flypast is one of the highlights of a weekend of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day at and around The Crown in Aldbourne, near Swindon.

Military reenactments and historic vehicle displays – including a Sherman tank – taking place around the village for the weekend of Saturday 3 to Monday May 5 – and on Saturday afternoon a convoy of military vehicles will be heading to nearby Littlecote House.

A 1940s-style big band concert and a special Victory in Europe concert by the award-winning Aldbourne Brass band are among the other highlights.

The Spitfire flypast will take place around noon on Sunday, May 4.

During World War Two the village was home to the US Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

The story of Easy Company was published in 1992 by author Stephen Ambrose, under the title Band of Brothers – later a successful TV series.

The village is regularly visited by the Screaming Eagles World War II American soldier re-enactment group.

The Crown pays homage to the troops with its 101 Bar, which is packed with memorabilia.

Many American veterans, although dwindling in numbers, have maintained links with the village that was their home-from-home as young servicemen.

Full details of events can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573909209928

Pictured: A restored Supermarine Spitfire in flight, by David Bell. Published under Creative Commons licence