THE UNMISTAKABLE sound of Merlin engines reverberated over the Exe estuary on Thursday as two of the Second World War’s most iconic aircraft marked a decisive phase of a major air battle.

Battle of Britain Day, the 15th September, was commemorated by the flight of two Spitfires in formation flown by pilots from Exeter and the naming of one aircraft “City of Exeter” by the Lord Mayor of Exeter Cynthia Thompson.

The aircraft, operated by Chichester-based Boultbee Flight Academy, have been flying out of Exeter airport for the past couple of weeks.

Watched by crowds around the airport , two-seat Spitfire SM520 and single-seater RR232, the latter rebuilt from a single rivet by Exeter-based Tool Care Hire owner Martin Philips , took off in formation before heading off on their short sortie down the Exe.