THE 61st anniversary of the crucial air battle which helped save Britain from Nazi invasion will be marked in style at a museum near York.

In one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the country, about 1,000 members of the Royal Air Force Association, as well as their family and friends, will meet tomorrow at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington.

They will be remembering one of the decisive conflicts of the Second World War - the Battle of Britain - in which the outnumbered RAF fighter pilots, who became known as "The Few", managed to hold off the massed ranks of the German Luftwaffe.

Had the battle been lost, the projected Nazi invasion of Britain would almost certainly have begun.

The event will feature the band of the RAF College, from RAF Cranwell, a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire and a memorial service. This will be followed by a parade and march past, in which the Sovereigns Colour Standard of the Auxiliary Air Force will be on display.

The event will close with a sunset ceremony and Evening Hymn. And an extra attraction will be a static display of the brand new RAF Merlin helicopter.

The Merlin has only just gone into active service, and, weather permitting, this will be its first northern appearance.

Museum spokesman Ian Richardson said: "This is always one of our most colourful, poignant and best attend-

ed functions.

"The sunset ceremony and playing of the Evening Hymn is sure to be a moving experience and will bring the event to a fitting close.

"Every effort is made to ensure the event is a worthy tribute to those who took part in one of the crucial Second World War battles."

The commemoration takes place tomorrow, from 11am. Ring 01904 608595 for details.

Updated: 10:00 Saturday, September 01, 2001