OLD adversaries who clashed in the skies high above the North of England on 'Black Thursday' during the Battle of Britain have finally come face to face.

German night fighter ace Gunther Bahr and his former sworn enemies of the RAF put aside the past and greeted each other warmly at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington.

Yesterday's event commemorated the 60th anniversary of the battle, in August 1940, and led to the loss of at least 15 German airmen.

A total of 18 decorated veterans met up to remember their exploits, and those of their comrades who didn't survive.

But it was smiles and handshakes rather than shots that were exchanged by the veterans on the anniversary of the battle which was dubbed by the Luftwaffe as 'Black Thursday'.

Herr Bahr, who is a holder of the prestigious Knight's Cross, met among others Wing Commander Ken McKenzie DFC, who is renowned for slicing the tail off a German plane attempting to bomb Buckingham Palace, and Squadron Leader George Bennions DFC MID, of Catterick, who also took part in the battle.

The northern skirmishes of the Battle of Britain saw Luftwaffe squadrons targeting Linton- on-Ouse, Driffield and Dishforth.

But the raids went wrong when the Germans strayed too far north, and RAF squadrons were scrambled to intercept them after picking them up on radar.