VE Day 80 flypast: Painstaking planning for display like 'herding cats', pilot reveals

A pilot due to fly over for 80 has revealed the painstaking planning for the spectacular display is like "herding cats".

Sqd Ldr Dan Wilkes shared that work into the started eight months ago for Monday's display - which will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday. The coming week's celebrations will observe eight decades after Winston Churchill saw the end of war in Europe and the crucial defeat of fascism. Wilkes, who trained at Cosford in Shropshire, revealed more than 20 planes would be part of the flypast and said he was "proud" to be involved in the momentous day.

The pilot confirmed the planes in this flypast will include a Lancaster bomber used in World War Two, fighter jets that are currently being used, and the Red Arrows. Wilkes revealed the first step in their nearly year long plans was the book airspace and talk to Heathrow Airport officials about passengers planes on that day, according to the .

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He said the next part involved planning the "choreography" of the event to make it as special for the occasion as possible - which happened at RAF Brize Norton. Wilkes shared what made their preparations particularly difficult was that each plane was travelling at a different speed.

The pilot said: "Trying to work out getting everybody in the right place at the right time is like herding cats." Despite this, Wilkes has been no stranger to important flypasts in his career with the RAF.

He worked on one for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, ' coronation in 2023, and the King's birthday in 2023 and 2024. Wilkes said: "The nerves have slowly dissipated and gone away but the importance nonetheless is still there and at the forefront of my mind."

This will not be the only special way VE Day will be marked next week as a number of special events have been planned to mark the anniversary of Winston Churchill telling huge crowds: "This is your victory".

A procession of 1,300 , uniformed services and young people will march to on Bank Holiday Monday. An actor is set to recite Churchill's exact VE Day speech to crowds too.

King Charles is also set to deliver a from Horse Guards Parade, in London, 80 years after his grandfather George VI announced the end of World War Two. At 9pm on May 8, the King will deliver a live address to the nation at a concert to conclude the national VE Day commemorations.

The concert, broadcast live next Thursday on One at 8pm, will include performances, readings and poignant moments that will tell the story of VE Day and the nation's reaction to the end of the Second World War 80 years ago. More than 12,500 people are expected to be in attendance, including a number of Second World War .

Events will also take place across the country with just some including the Trafford Centre in holding "a day of remembrance, reflection and family fun" on 10 May and Edinburgh will host " Salutes: VE80" on 6 May at the city’s Usher Hall.