Mrs Margaret Robertson (centre), a 100-year-old Royal Air Force veteran worked on the Lancaster aircraft based at RAF Disforth, a training facility for Bomber Command crews.
A 100-year-old Royal Air Force veteran was in attendance at the Northern Ireland International Airshow as the RAF honoured Northern Ireland’s unique part in its history over the last century.
Londonderry resident and wartime Women’s Auxiliary Air Force flight mechanic Margaret Robertson was the RAF’s guest of honour on Sunday afternoon at the North Coast event.
During the war, she worked on the Lancaster aircraft, which took to the skies over portrush on Saturday afternoon alongside a display by a modern-day Typhoon Display Aircraft bearing the iconic D-Day ‘Invasion Stripes’.
Mrs Robertson served at RAF Disforth, a training facility for Bomber Command crews.
A Vampire aircraft bearing the historic markings of the Aldergrove-based 502 (Ulster) Squadron, also graced the skies as crowds of around 75,000 people watched the airshow from vantage points around Portrush and Portstewart on Saturday afternoon.
With the Airshow celebrating Skills, Innovation & Sustainability, the RAF’s STEM team showcased the skills needed to perform the highly-skilled jobs of the future. The RAF also marked its close ties with the Northern Irish aerospace and defence sector at a Portrush reception.
The sector employs 9,000 people in Northern Ireland.
The Lancaster Bomber in the skies over Northern Ireland. (Image: Michael Lyke)
Air Marshal Sean Reynolds, Air Officer Northern Ireland, said:
“Northern Ireland’s people, and spirit of innovation, have been central to the RAF's story for over 100 years and so we were delighted to welcome our centenarian Margaret to the Northern Ireland International Airshow to see our historic and modern aircraft, and meet today’s aviators.
“We continue to honour the sacrifice and bravery of Margaret and her generation, while recognising that Northern Ireland plays a significant role in today’s RAF – through its world class defence and cybersecurity industries, regular and reserve personnel.”
Northern Ireland served as a hub of aircraft production during the Second World War, as well as a base for submarine-hunting aircraft that played a pivotal role in ensuring that the UK could be resupplied with key materials.
Today, the local defence sector continues to deliver exceptional operational capability for the RAF, while making a significant £900 million contribution to the local economy.
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