MORE than 50 years of aviation history came to a close last month as the Royal Air Force said farewell to the No 11/18 Fighter Group.
A Tornado jet flew over RAF Bentley Priory in Stanmore drowning out the sound of the bugle and sunset ceremony outside the officers' mess.
Wing Commander Jayne Millington said: 'Air defence is still vital, but the reorganisation of Strike Command to better support overseas and UK operations, has led to the closure of the headquarters of the 11/18 Group.
'It is more efficient to manage assets elsewhere at Strike Command High Wycombe.'
The original No 11 Fighter Group masterminded the Battle of Britain in October 1940 when 1,700 enemy aircraft were destroyed for the loss of 449 Allied pilots.
Throughout the duration of World War Two, Fighter Command claimed to have destroyed 6,751 aircraft and flown 4,864,867 hours.
Latterly, the No 11 group served in the Falklands, the Gulf War and supported operations in the former Yugoslavia.
It was amalgamated with No 18 Group in 1996.
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