Historians were elated after RAF Gravesend was honoured in a Battle of Britain tribute.

A flyover marking the Hardest Day, a raid on RAF bases in south east England during the Second World War, was set to fly near, but not directly over, the former military airfield, now Cascades leisure centre, in Thong Lane .

However, historians were delighted to see Hurricanes and Spitfires fly over the site on Tuesday in tribute to brave serviceman and women who served there many years ago.

John Tate from the Gravesend Airport Heritage Project (GAHP) said: “It was an absolutely brilliant moment and it was fantastic to see the formation up there. It makes it all worthwhile and actually Biggin Hill went out of its way to do it.”

The Hardest Day was August 18, 1940 and, as part of the Battle of Britain’s 75th anniversary, Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar and Biggin Hill Airport organised a flyover, with three flights covering each area featured in the former theatre of operations – from Biggin Hill to former RAF airfields at Detling, West Malling and Gravesend.

However, GAHP was outraged when members heard Tuesday’s route would not fly directly above Gravesend’s former airfield. They posted complaints on social media and organised a petition, which garnered 215 signatures.

Organisers denied a snub and said the route was due to flying regulations over built up areas.

Mr Tate, who had been in regular dialogue with the Heritage Hangar during the saga, said: “I don’t think the pilots themselves were in any doubt that they would do it if they were allowed to.

“They were on a totally different course to that which was publicised. We were standing up on the remainder of the airfield, which is just behind woods.

“We were looking south, expecting to see them flying east to west, and then we heard this sound and there they were.”

The Hardest Day got its name because it was thought to be the hardest fought conflict during the Battle of Britain and involved the German Luftwaffe flying 850 sorties, involving 3,200 airmen, as they raided RAF airfields. The RAF defended its bases by sending out 926 sorties involving 600 crew.

There were 10 British fatalities from the day, while 94 Germans died, and among the dead were two pilots from 501 Squadron based at RAF Gravesend, Plt Off J.W Bland and Flt Lt G.E.B Stoney. Both are commemorated on a memorial plaque at the entrance to Cascades.

Mr Tate said the specific formation the planes were flying in was a tribute to Gravesend’s fallen.

He said: “The planes were flying in what’s called a ‘missing man formation’ which is a salute to dead pilots. I imagine it was a tribute to the two pilots that were lost during the Hardest Day.”

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar was not available for a comment when the Messenger went to press.