Plans for a Lancaster Bomber to fly over Derbyshire today have been cancelled, it has been confirmed.
The Ministry of Defence says weather conditions, particularly the wind, would make the flight too dangerous.
Thousands of spectators from across the country were expected to descend on Derwent Dam in Derbyshire in the hope of getting a glimpse of the legendary plane as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).
The event would have have marked the 75th anniversary of the Dambusters raid in the Second World War . The raid has particular significance for Derbyshire as the designer of the bouncing bomb used, Barnes Wallis, was born in Ripley and 2km-long Derwent Reservoir was a key training spot for the air crews.
You can follow our live updates on the event below:
Key Events
Children are also gutted
Jenny Free brought her children down to see the flypast.
She said: “I’m proper disappointed.
“I’ve brought my four children down with me - who had to trek two miles - to get told it was cancelled completely.
“I can’t believe it flew over after everyone had left - my children are gutted.”
Here is how we reported on the 'flypast farce'
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/flypast-derwent-dam-cancelled-planes-1574051
Just in case you missed it, here is the flypast
This Video was taken by Gill Watson of the Eurofighter Typhoon that flew over the Derwent Dam
'Not a way to celebrate this milestone for the RAF'
Nigel Taylor, who was at Derwent Dam, said: “There are so many disappointed people.
“We were told it was cancelled and we saw NOTHING.
“I can’t believe they told us it was cancelled and then it flies past!
“Not a way to celebrate this monumental milestone for the RAF.”
Here is the Typhoon spectators missed
This video taken by James Torbell shows the Typhoon swoop across Derwent Dam
Spectators walk away and miss the flypast
Just minutes after being told that the flypast has been cancelled, spectators start to walk from the scene.
The Typhoon then swoops across the skies after most people have left.
'Well that's my birthday ruined.'
One spectator said: “That’s my birthday ruined.
“Everyone left and it came past - unbelievable!
“I’ve been here since half six to see a plane, and when they say it isn’t coming it goes past.”
Typhoon has flown over - just as everyone was leaving
Just as everyone was walking away, the Typhoon swept over the Derwent Dam.
Shirley Jessie had been waiting EIGHT hours for the flypast and was fuming.
She said: “That’s absolutely ridiculous.
“They said no nothing was coming and it has just FLEW past - there is no one there now.
“This miscommunication has just left us with nothing after an 8 hour wait.”
Typhoon flypast CANCELLED at Derwent Dam
According to a tweet posted the officer Commanding the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, it states there will be no flypast at the Derwent Dam AT ALL.
This is due to poor weather at low level.
The tweet read:
The tension is building
Spectators wait eagerly for the Typhoon to fly over Derwent Dam.
It could happen any minute now...
Wing Commander Guy Gibson led the raid in 1943
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the Dambusters raid
Minutes remain until flypast
This pan shot, taken by Telegraph reporter Jordan Coussins, shows the dam where the Typhoon is set to fly over.
The Typhoon is due just after midday.
Was the 1943 raid successful?
Three dams were targeted during the raid.
The Möhne and Edersee Dams were breached, causing catastrophic flooding of the Ruhr Valley.
The Sorpe Dam sustained only minor damage.
Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and several more damaged. Factories and mines were also damaged and destroyed.
Despite rapid repairs by the Germans, production did not return to normal until September.
Eight aircraft were lost in the raid in 1943
Out of the 19 aircraft that took part in the raid, eight of them were lost and 53 Commonwealth airmen of the 133 who took part were killed.
Three were taken prisoner.
617 Squadron operated for the rest of the war flying both routine and specialist bombing missions.
Operation Chastise
Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on May 16 and 17, 1943, by the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron, later called the Dambusters, The Lancasters used a purpose-built “bouncing bomb” developed by Ripley’s Sir Barnes Wallis.
Around 35 minutes until the flypast
The Typhoon is expecting to fly over the dam at 12.05pm.
Anticipation continues to build at Ladybower Reservoir.
Crowds are getting ready for the Typhoon flypast
People are starting to take their positions to see the Eurofighter make its way across Derwent Dam
One spectator travelled from WALES in the hope of seeing the Lancaster
Amy Willis, who has travelled from Wales, said she has heard talk they may do it tomorrow.
The 37-year-old said: “I’ve heard a lot of people saying it might come tomorrow.
“That may well be good for them, but most of us took a day off to see it.”
Museum opens for first time in years for the event
The Derwent Dam Museum, which has been closed for many years, has opened as a one-off to give visitors a view of the historic dam.
Get your binoculars at the ready!
There is not long to wait until the Typhoon flies over.
'I hope the Typhoons are worth it."
Linda Appleton says that the crowds are much thinner than they were the last time there was a flypast at Derwent Dam.
She said: “it’s so quiet today - everyone must have gone home.
“I was here at the last flyover and the hillside was about 30 to 40 deep, but today there is hardly anyone.
“It’s such a shame they couldn’t make it today, but the raid was also on May 17, in 1943, so there is still time.
“People have walked for miles to get here, so I hope the Typhoons are worth it.”
Two Typhoons?
Rumours on the ground reveal that TWO Typhoons could sweep across the Derbyshire skies.
This has not been confirmed by the MoD though.
Crowds continue to build for flypast
This picture, taken by Telegraph reporter Jordan Coussins, shows that crowds continue to build.
Hundreds of people have made their way to the Ladybower Reservoir to see the flypast.
Memorial flight cannot confirm or deny that the Lancaster could fly over Derbyshire tomorrow
A source on the ground at Derwent Dam said that the Lancaster could fly over Derbyshire tomorrow, if the weather is good enough.
However, staff at the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial flight, based in Coningsby, said they could not “confirm or deny” this at the moment.
Typhoon will NOT fly over Derby, Belper or Chatsworth
According to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Twitter, the Typhoon will only fly over the Derwent Dam.
This is due to the low-flying regulations that are in place.
Their tweet read:
View from the platform
This video, taken by Telegraph reporter Jordan Coussins, shows the viewing platform.
Spectators have already started to set up their seats ready to see the Typhoon fly over.
RAF Coningsby confirm time of Typhoon flypast
Members of the MoD at RAF Coningsby have confirmed what time the Typhoon will fly over Derwent Dam.
The multi-role jet is scheduled to sweep over Derbyshire just after 12pm today.
Spectators are being encouraged to get into their positions in time to see the jet fly over.
Motorists urged to park sensibly
Officers from Derbyshire police are on hand to minimise disruption while the flypast is taking place.
A spokesman at the scene confirmed that all motorists are being urged to park sensibly.