Memorial Ceremony on the Anniversary of the Spitfire MH980 Crash near Suhorje

In cooperation with the British Embassy in the Republic of Slovenia, the Park of Military History organized a memorial ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, marking the anniversary of the crash of the Spitfire MH980 aircraft near the village of Suhorje in Brkini, and the death of its pilot, Sergeant Edmund Ramsbotham of the 249th Squadron of the British Royal Air Force. This was one of the most famous fighter units of the Royal Air Force. Established as early as August 1918, it achieved its fame during the Second World War—first in the Battle of Britain, and later over Malta, Sicily, Italy, Albania, the Balkans, and right at the end of the war, over Slovenian territory. Sergeant Ramsbotham was the last casualty of this renowned unit in the Second World War.

By the end of April 1945, the vast majority of Europe had already been liberated from the Nazi yoke. However, in the hinterland of the northern Adriatic, the 97th Corps of the German Army was still fiercely resisting. British Royal Air Force fighters, assisting the Yugoslav Army, stalked German road and rail transports, thereby seriously hindering the supply and movement of enemy units. Exactly 81 years ago, on the morning of April 29, Sergeant Ramsbotham took off in his Spitfire MH980 from the Canne airfield in Italy, refueled at the Prkos airfield near Zadar, and then flew towards Trieste in search of enemy units. On his way back, he attacked an enemy ammunition truck in a low-level flyover. The aircraft was hit by the explosion of the truck and crashed near Suhorje immediately after. The villagers of Suhorje gave the young English pilot a dignified burial in the village cemetery. Shortly after the war, British military authorities exhumed Ramsbotham’s remains and relocated them to the military cemetery in Belgrade, where he rests to this day.

The central part of the ceremony was a tribute to the fallen pilot, where the Minister of Defense, Mag. Borut Sajovic, and the Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the United Kingdom, Nigel Baker, laid wreaths at the monument as a sign of respect and alliance. The ceremony was also attended by other distinguished guests, including Defense Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Ewan Christian Noble Harris, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Pivka Majda Godina, and representatives of veterans’ organizations and the Slovenian Armed Forces.

The gathering was first addressed by the Director of the Park of Military History, Mag. Janko Boštjančič, who highlighted the importance of preserving historical memory and the role of both the Park of Military History and the local community in safeguarding the heritage of this event. Every year, the ceremony brings together locals and high-ranking state representatives in a shared expression of gratitude for peace and freedom.

In his address, Minister of Defense Mag. Borut Sajovic emphasized the symbolism of the venue: “It is a special honor for me to be here today at this memorial ceremony, where we remember a pilot whose fate is symbolically tied to this place.” He pointed out that this is a story of courage, sacrifice, and values that continue to connect us today. He stressed that this memory is also the foundation of cooperation between the Slovenian and British sides, as well as the local community. He thanked everyone present, especially the soldiers, guardsmen, and veterans of the war for Slovenia, concluding his speech with the thought: “Let us preserve the memory and the commitment so that future generations may live in peace.”

The British Chargé d’Affaires, Nigel Baker, also highlighted deep gratitude and the importance of the alliance in his speech. He emphasized that sacrifices like Ramsbotham’s were not in vain, as they paved the way to a free and united Europe. He expressed his sincere thanks to the residents of Suhorje, who have carefully preserved the memory of the young British pilot for decades, which, in his words, proves the strong and enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Slovenia. The speeches were joined by the representative of the British Royal Air Force, Squadron Leader Martyn Matt, who highlighted the tradition of the Royal Air Force and the importance of maintaining friendly ties between nations.

The monument in Suhorje thus remains a lasting symbol of friendship that connects the local community, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.

Even before the ceremony, the British delegation attended the opening of the “Display Case of the Month,” which presents the local story of the downing of a Mustang Mk. III KH467 aircraft of the 112th Squadron of the British Royal Air Force, piloted by South African Lieutenant John Hellon Nixon. His remains were buried by German soldiers at the crash site, right next to a forest road. After the war, locals helped find the pilot’s grave, and his remains were subsequently identified and transferred to the Belgrade military cemetery on December 12, 1947.

📷 Simon Avsec