About
The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) operates from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
The mission of the RAF BBMF is to maintain the priceless artefacts of our national heritage in airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of this country. The RAF BBMF also serves to promote the modern day Air Force and to inspire the future generations.
The Flight operates five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft (primarily for training). The aircraft are flown by regular RAF Aircrew.
These aircraft can be regularly seen in the skies over the UK from May to September each year. They are flown to celebrate and commemorate public and military events from State occasions such as Trooping the Colour to major airshows and flypasts for public events.
HISTORY
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) was inaugurated on 11 July 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill. It was initially called the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight and consisted of three PR Mk XIX Spitfires and the RAF’s last airworthy Hurricane, LF363. It was then renamed to be the Battle of Britain Flight before a final renaming in 1969 to what it is known as today, BBMF.
Between 1959 and 1965 the flight had one Spitfire (PM631) and one Hurricane (LF363) on its strength. Now, as a ‘museum without walls’, it maintains eleven historic and irreplaceable aircraft: an Avro Lancaster, a C-47 Dakota, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and two de Havilland Chipmunk training aircraft.
The BBMF is a regular RAF unit, manned by service personnel and funded by the Ministry of Defence.
MOTTO
“Lest We Forget”
The Lest We Forget motto of the RAF BBMF reflects our mission and honours the thousands of men and women, in the air and on the ground, that gave their lives for this country in the noble pursuit of freedom.
