The Royal Air Force( RAF) Battle of Britain Memorial Flight( BBMF) commemorates all those who have lost their lives serving in the RAF, or its predecessor the Royal Flying Corps, in all conflicts from 1914 up to the present day. The BBMF fleet of World War Two aircraft is preserved in flying condition as a living tribute to them, to promote the modern day Air Force and to inspire future generations. The Flight’ s motto‘ Lest We Forget’ says it all.
RAF BBMF History & Background
Inaugurated as the“ RAF Historic Aircraft Flight” on 11th July 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill in Kent, the Flight initially consisted of three PR Mk XIX Spitfires and the RAF’ s last airworthy Hurricane, LF363.
The Flight was soon renamed the“ Battle of Britain Flight” and then in 1969, to reflect its wider commemorative role, it became the“ Battle of Britain Memorial Flight”( BBMF).
Between 1959 and 1965 the Flight had only one Spitfire( PM631) and one Hurricane( LF363) on its strength. Now, as a“ museum without walls”, it maintains eleven historic and irreplaceable aircraft in airworthy condition: 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. Those who serve with the Flight feel extremely privileged to work with and to fly the BBMF aircraft, which are all precious artefacts of the RAF’ s and the Nation’ s aviation heritage.
RAF BBMF Operations
The BBMF’ s home is at RAF Coningsby.
During the winter season – from October to March each year – the majority of the Flight’ s aircraft( except for the Chipmunks) are kept on the ground for extensive winter maintenance to prepare them for the next display season and to ensure their long-term preservation.
The display season normally runs from the beginning of May to the first week of October each year, with pre-season work-up flying for the crews taking place in April, culminating in Public Display Approval being sought for each pilot from the Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group. During the display season all the aircraft fly regularly and its aircraft and crews deploy away routinely on display duties.
Meanwhile, routine servicing and rectification work also takes place in the Flight’ s hangar.
The BBMF is typically tasked to fly approximately 100 displays and over 700 flypasts at events of all shapes and sizes during each display season, generating around 1,000 individual aircraft appearances each year and reaching over 14 million people. The display programme takes careful and extensive planning, each sortie often involving several events, to maximise the opportunities within the limited aircraft flying hours available( the hours limits are imposed to ensure the aircraft’ s long-term preservation).
Applications for appearances can be made via the application form on https:// www. raf. mod. uk / display-teams / battle-of-britain-memorial-flight /