Jonny Cracknell in the cockpit of the Josef František Hurricane.
To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain we are running a total of 80 miles in just 5 days. Commencing 5 October, Jonny Cracknell, Chris Marsh and Chris Scott will be starting this 80 mile run from Duxford. The Support team is lead by Iain Willis.
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Chris Marsh, Jonny Cracknell, Chris Scott.
Project Team leader Jonny Cracknell says about this project:
Our objective is to raise as much awareness as possible, in this poignant anniversary year, for the courageous ‘Few’ – the young men who defended Britains skies during 1940 from the relentless German Luftwaffe and an inveitible invasion. There is now just only one known surviving aircrew alive from this historic Battle, Gp Cpt John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway DFC, who turned 101 in July. In tribute to this hero, alongside all of his comrades, we hope to continue their memory by raising much needed funds to support both the National Memorial to the Few at Capel-le-Ferne, and the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust at Hawkinge, who receive no public funding. Particularly with the impacts of Covid on them opening their revenue streams have been severely impacted.
Crowdfunding to support this worthy project here
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Iain Willis, Chris Marsh, Jonny Cracknell and Chris Scott
by the Josef František’s Hurricane, RF-R, at Duxford.
The route will see the team run between 16 significant Battle of Britain Fighter Stations and locations in the UK, these being:
| Day | Location | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 1 – 5 October |
Duxford – Aircraft Restoration Company |
10:00 | 11:00 |
| Fowlmere – Airfield Museum |
11:45 | 12:30 | |
| Debden – Debden Memorial |
15:00 | 15:30 |
Jonny Cracknell, laying a Royal British Legion cross no. 87/137 at Josef František’s grave at Northwood.
| Day | Location | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 2 – 6 October |
North Weald Airfield | 09:30 | 10:00 |
| Hornchurch – Hornchurch Aerodrome Historical Trust |
11:45 | 12:45 | |
| Biggin Hill – Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar |
11:45 | 12:45 | |
| Kenley – Kenley Memorial |
16:00 | 17:00 | |
| Croydon | 17:45 | 18:00 |
Cross 93/143, at Vilém Kosarz’s grave at Northwood.
| Day | Location | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 3 – 7 October |
Uxbridge – Battle of Britain Bunker |
10:00 | 11:00 |
| Northolt – Polish Air Force Memorial |
11:45 | 12:00 | |
| Bentley Priory – Bentley Priory Museum |
14:00 | 16:00 |
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Cross 9/143, at Václav Brejcha’s grave, Scottow, Norfolk.
| Day | Location | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 4 – 8 October |
Westhampnett – Boultbee Flight Academy |
11:00 | 12:30 |
| Tangemere – Tangmere Military Museum |
14:00 | 15:00 |
Cross 91/143 at Jaroslav Hlaváč’s grave, at Warmwell, Dorset.
| Day | Location | Arrive | Depart |
| Day 5 – 9 October |
Manston – Spitfire & Hurricane Museum, Manston |
09:30 | 10:30 |
| Hawkinge – Kent Battle of Britain Museum |
15:00 | 16:00 | |
| Capel le Ferne – National Battle of Britain Memorial |
16:30 |
Cross 42/143, at Josef Dygrýn’s grave, Westwell, Kent.
As a means of simply paying their own respects and; remembrance, the team have been laying Royal British Legion remembrance cross’s at various Battle of Britain pilots graves.
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310 Sqn Airmens Memorial plaque, Duxford.
The team have so far laid 120 memorial crosses at resting places of the Few, across 12 counties in the UK – with plans to lay another 30/40 either before or during then run. Czechoslovak pilots remembered include Václav BREJCHA, Josef DYGRÝN, Josef FRANTIŠEK, Jaroslav HLAVÁČ, Vilém KOSARZ as well as the 310 Sqn Airmen’s Memorial Plaque at Duxford.
This has also allowed them to share many individual stories from all nations, ages and backgrounds on a daily basis on social media. It is hoped that it will help people relate more to the Battle of Britain by seeing the young faces and reading the diverse stories of heroism all those involved.
Crowdfunding to support this worthy project here
Cross 104/143 at Antonín Velebnovský’s grave, at Chichester, Dorset.
Free Czechoslovak Air Force 