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PRJ-03 · Ongoing

Patriot Skies

Honoring those who served, through ceremony, film, and partnership with the BFTS community.

Remembrance · Storytelling
The brief

Every year we help organize the Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Mesa Cemetery on the second Sunday in November. The event honors the 23 Royal Air Force cadets who lost their lives during pilot training at Mesa's Falcon Field during WWII (1941–1945).

When
2nd Sunday · November
Where
Mesa Cemetery · Mesa, AZ
Partners
No. 4 BFTS · US & UK
Cadets honored
23

The RAF plot

The RAF plot at the cemetery remains property of Great Britain, while the Mesa Cemetery staff respectfully maintain it — planting a winter lawn and seasonal flowers around the cenotaph. Union Jacks stand beside Stars and Stripes at each cadet's headstone.

The ceremony

The ceremony features remarks from the Mayor of Mesa, an RAF officer, and the Honorary British Consul. Descendants of the cadets participate alongside the Mesa Caledonia Pipe Band, the Scottish Honor Guard, a 21-gun salute, dueling taps, and a WWII aircraft flyover. Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol cadets assist with setup.

Partners

Active partnership with No. 4 BFTS organizations in the United States and the United Kingdom — including the families and descendants of the cadets who trained at Falcon Field.

Watch & give

The Patriot Skies promotional video and the Remembrance Day ceremony video are linked in the resources below. Direct contributions to Patriot Skies are welcome — email us and we'll share how to give.

From the ceremony

Union Jacks beside Stars and Stripes.

Scenes from the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Mesa Cemetery — the pipe band on the green, wreaths at the cenotaph, and the flyover overhead.

  • The Mesa Caledonia Pipe Band assembled on the cemetery green between rows of cadet headstones marked with British and American flags.
    The Mesa Caledonia Pipe Band, on the green.
  • A row of memorial wreaths on stands beside the pipe band, including one from the British Consulate General in Los Angeles and an RAF roundel wreath.
    Wreaths at the plot — including the British Consulate General, Los Angeles.
  • The flat granite headstone of LAC George Davison, RAF, who died 8th April 1943, marked with a Union Jack, a Stars and Stripes, and a poppy cross. The inscription reads: greater love hath no man than this, he gave his life for his friends.
    LAC George Davison, RAF · 8 April 1943. One of the twenty-three.
  • Seven members of the Scottish Honor Guard in kilts and glengarries, presenting the American, British, and band colors.
    The Scottish Honor Guard, with the colors.
  • A formation of WWII aircraft trailing smoke overhead during the ceremony, with the pipe band and wreaths below.
    The flyover — WWII aircraft over the plot.
  • Pipers of the Mesa Caledonia Pipe Band playing in red tartan kilts.
    Pipers, mid-tune.
  • The AAHG memorial wreath of white and blue flowers with a red ribbon reading AZ Aviation Historical Group.
    Our wreath, laid for the twenty-three.
  • A speaker delivering remarks at the podium between the British and American flags.
    Remarks between the flags.
  • Descendants of the RAF cadets gathered around the cenotaph and its red, white, and blue flower beds.
    Descendants of the cadets, at the cenotaph.
  • Four attendees in remembrance red wearing poppy pins.
    Remembrance red and poppies.
  • Rows of small British and American flags at the cadet headstones, with the seated crowd beyond.
    Two flags to a stone, twenty-three stones.
Resources

Films, partner sites, and credits referenced on this page.

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