These photos show the thunderous celebrations that marked the 21st anniversary of Southend Airport operating since the war.

They were taken on a Sunday afternoon in March of 1968 – a day that you can clearly see from the photos in our gallery – that the airport laid on a mammoth celebration to mark the landmark birthday.

Echo: Crowds of spectators climb into the cockpit of one of the display planes at the showCrowds of spectators climb into the cockpit of one of the display planes at the show (Image: Newsquest)

Organisers laid on one of the best aerial displays the country had seen for many years at the airport, which drew in 50,000 spectators from across Essex, London and the Home Counties.

Highlights of the event including a Battle of Britain Spitfire flypast as well as the deafening arrival of an RAF camouflaged Victor B.2 V-Bomber which touched down on the runway with landing lights blazing.

Echo: The show was hailed as the best event of its kind for many yearsThe show was hailed as the best event of its kind for many years (Image: Newsquest)

Spectators were able to peruse hundreds planes of all shapes and sizes and at least 1,000 people got to experience joy flights in light planes.

There was also an amazing parachute display by the RAF Falcons.

Echo: Two women at the open day rest their legs underneath a planeTwo women at the open day rest their legs underneath a plane (Image: Newsquest)

So many people turned up to the show that it caused traffic mayhem. At least 5,000 vehicles parked at the car park and at one point traffic jams stretched from the airport down Manners Way to St Mary’s Church in Prittlewell.

Southend council bosses hailed the event as a huge success but suggested lessons needed to be learned for future air shows of this kind when it came to crowd control and parking issues.

Echo: The mayor of Southend greets the RAF FalconsThe mayor of Southend greets the RAF Falcons (Image: Newsquest)

Scroll through our gallery of photos below to see all the fun of the show

Echo: A policeman tries to direct traffic in the clogged up roads near to the airportA policeman tries to direct traffic in the clogged up roads near to the airport (Image: Newsquest)Echo: Youngsters watch air displays while sitting on the wing of a grounded planeYoungsters watch air displays while sitting on the wing of a grounded plane (Image: Newsquest)Echo: Numerous light aircraft as well as historic planes flew into the airport for the celebrationsNumerous light aircraft as well as historic planes flew into the airport for the celebrations (Image: Newsquest)Echo: RAF Falcon parachuter wows the crowdsRAF Falcon parachuter wows the crowds (Image: Newsquest)