Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The RAF’s own airworthy Second World War aircraft, led by Lancaster PA474, flown from Coningsby to commemorate those who fell under the motto “Lest We Forget”.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: how the team came to be and what it flies today
The Historic Aircraft Flight
The flight began on 11 July 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill as the Historic Aircraft Flight, with one Hurricane and three Spitfires kept flying when the last piston fighters left RAF service. It became the Battle of Britain Flight in 1969 and took its present name in 1973, when the Lancaster joined. Its stated mission is to keep these aircraft airworthy to commemorate those who have fallen, while promoting the modern RAF.
A moving home
The unit moved repeatedly in its first two decades: Biggin Hill to North Weald in 1958, then Martlesham Heath, Horsham St Faith and, from April 1963, Coltishall. It settled at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire in March 1976, where a visitor centre now offers tours. The crews are regular and reserve RAF aircrew who fly the historic aircraft alongside their main jobs, and the display season runs from May to September.
The fleet
Spitfire P7350, a Battle of Britain veteran, joined in November 1968; Hurricane PZ865 in March 1972; Avro Lancaster PA474, one of only two airworthy Lancasters in the world, in November 1973; and Douglas Dakota ZA947 in March 1993. Two Chipmunks, WG486 and WK518, are used for tailwheel training. Hurricane LF363 survived a crash at RAF Wittering on 11 September 1991, when a camshaft failure stopped its engine; it was rebuilt and flew again on 29 September 1998.
The 2024 loss
On 25 May 2024 Spitfire LF IXe MK356 crashed in a field just after take-off from Coningsby, killing Squadron Leader Mark Long. The flight was grounded. The Lancaster was cleared to fly again in mid-2024, but the Merlin-engined Spitfires and Hurricanes stayed on the ground until the RAF cleared them in March 2025. Reporting on the inquiry in October 2026 attributed the crash to debris in the carburettor that restricted fuel flow and cost the engine thrust.
Flying again
The fighters returned for the 2025 season, and the Dakota came back the same year in a new scheme after maintenance begun in 2022; Spitfire AB910 returned to flight in January 2026. The fleet now stands at five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, the Lancaster, the Dakota and two Chipmunks. The RAF notes that PA474 is one of only two airworthy Lancasters left in the world, and the flight still works under its motto, “Lest We Forget”.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in numbers
The team
- Formation
- 11 aircraft
- 5 Spitfires
- 2 Hurricanes
- 1 Lancaster
- 1 Dakota
- 2 Chipmunks (training)
Aircraft display singly or in mixed formations such as the Lancaster with fighters.
The aircraft
- Flown
- Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster
- Supermarine Spitfire IIa, Vb, LF XVIe, PR XIX
- Hawker Hurricane IIC
- Avro Lancaster PA474
- Douglas Dakota ZA947
- de Havilland Chipmunk T10
Home
- Based at
- RAF Coningsby
- Biggin Hill (1957–1958)
- North Weald (1958)
- Martlesham Heath (1958–1961)
- Horsham St Faith (1961–1963)
- Coltishall (1963–1976)
- Coningsby (1976–)
Every type Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has flown
| Aircraft | Years | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarine Spitfire | since 1957 | 5 | P7350 (IIa), AB910 (Vb), TE311 (LF XVIe), PM631 and PS915 (PR XIX). MK356 (LF IXe) lost 2024. |
| Hawker Hurricane IIC | since 1957 | 2 | LF363 and PZ865. |
| Avro Lancaster | since 1973 | 1 | PA474. |
| Douglas Dakota | since 1993 | 1 | ZA947. |
| de Havilland Chipmunk T10 | 2 | WG486 and WK518, used for training. |
What Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is known for
- PA474 is one of only two airworthy Lancasters in the world (RAF).
- Spitfire P7350, which joined in 1968, flew in the Battle of Britain (Wikipedia).
- The flight has been at Coningsby since March 1976 (Wikipedia).
Who leads Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
- Squadron Leader Paul Wise · Officer Commanding
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, year by year
Historic Aircraft Flight formed at Biggin Hill with a Hurricane and three Spitfires.
Moves to RAF Coltishall.
Spitfire P7350 joins.
Renamed Battle of Britain Flight.
Hurricane PZ865 joins.
Lancaster PA474 joins; unit renamed Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Moves to RAF Coningsby.
Hurricane LF363 crashes at Wittering after engine failure.
Dakota ZA947 joins.
Rebuilt LF363 flies again.
Spitfire MK356 crashes at Coningsby; Sqn Ldr Mark Long killed; flight grounded.
RAF clears Spitfires and Hurricanes to return for the 2025 season.
Spitfire AB910 returns to flight.
Inquiry findings reported: carburettor debris restricted fuel flow on MK356.
The cost of flying this close
Display flying is among the most demanding flying there is. These are the accidents on record, with the findings as published.
Hawker Hurricane IIC LF363. Camshaft failure en route to Jersey; crash-landed at RAF Wittering and burned. Sqn Ldr Allan Martin escaped with a broken ankle and burns. Rebuilt, flying again in 1998. No fatalities.
Supermarine Spitfire LF IXe MK356. Lost speed just after take-off from Coningsby and crashed in a field; Sqn Ldr Mark Long killed. The inquiry, as reported in October 2026, found debris in the carburettor starved the engine of fuel. 1 killed.
Everything people ask about Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
What aircraft does the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fly?
Where is the BBMF based?
When was the BBMF formed?
Is the BBMF still flying after the 2024 Spitfire crash?
Why was the BBMF Spitfire lost in 2024?
Around Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Every fact, checked
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight — Wikipedia
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight — Royal Air Force
- Hurricane LF363: 25 years since disaster — Memorial Flight Club
- Inquest hears cause of death of BBMF pilot — Forces News
- RAF returns Hurricane and Spitfire to air show duties — AeroTime
- Spitfire fatally crashed as carburettor debris restricted fuel flow — FlightGlobal
Verified 2026-10-02.