Portsmouth flypast: Spitfires soar over D-Day 75 celebrations in Portsmouth alongside modern RAF aircraft

Spitfires have soared over the heads of world leaders in Portsmouth in a spectacular flypast to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The historic Second World War fighter planes joined 26 RAF aircraft to fly over the city at approximately 12.37pm today where Britain’s centrepiece D-Day 75 ceremony was taking place on Southsea Common.

Hundreds of veterans watched the display alongside the Queen, and Donald Trump watched as the planes flew in tribute to those who fought in the pivotal World War Two Battle 75 years ago.

The Frigate warship, HMS St Albans fired a gun salute from the Solent as a herald to the military aircraft flying overhead.

D-Day 75th Anniversary flypast over Portsmouth - In pictures

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The display included "The Voyager", the RAF’s longest aircraft at 250ft, in the fleet of modern and vintage aircraft.

Two Typhoon FGR4s and the RAF's acrobatic team the Red Arrows billowing red, white and blue smoke, also flew past.

A Spitfire (left) and Hurricane (right) joined the fleet. (MoD )
MoD

The Queen delivered a speech just before the display, saying: “The wartime generation, my generation is resilient and I’m delighted to be with you today.”

“The heroism, courage and sacrifice of those who lost their lives will never be forgotten,” she added later, before thanking those who joined the commemorations.

It is one of three major aircraft displays to take place today with the Red Arrows set to put an extended display in Portsmouth later this afternoon at around 4.15pm.

The RAF planes fly over the crowd in Portsmouth
AFP/Getty Images

Another flypast took with 30 Douglas C-47 Skytrains, nicknamed Dakotas or “Daks”, which took off from Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire.

The fleet travelled to Normandy to drop 230 parachutists at the historic drop zone of Sannerville.

A history enthusiast looks on as C-47 Dakota planes drop parachutists in WW2 attire near the Normandy coast
EPA

“Many of these airframes were built during the Second World War and some of the aircraft actually flew on D-Day. So they are going back to the very airspace they served in themselves,” military historian, Dr Peter Caddick Adams told Sky News.

Portsmouth has been hosting a series of commemorative events on Wednesday ahead of the anniversary on 6 June.

At least 15 world leaders and dignitaries are being hosted by Theresa May at Southsea Common, which includes an hour-long production telling the story of the invasion, theatrical performances and live music.

Representatives from every country that fought alongside the UK in "Operation Overlord" are attending the events.

They will be joined by the Queen, the Prince of Wales, members of the armed forces and hundreds of veterans who fought in the historic military invasion.

From the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, Mrs May and Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt will then wave off 300 veterans as they retrace the journey they made across the Channel 75 years ago, followed by a flotilla of Royal Navy vessels.