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''BATTLE of BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT ''

History of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

In the years immediately follwing World War II it became traditional for a Spitfire and a Hurricane to lead the Victory Day flypast over London. From that event there grew the idea to form an historic collection of flyable aircraft, initially to commemorate the RAF's major battle honour, The Battle of Britain, and latterly with broadened scope, to commemorate the RAF's involvement in all the campaigns of WWII. Thus in 1957 the Historic Aircraft Flight was formed at Biggin Hill in what, even then, had become a predominantly jet-powered Air Force. As can be seen from the following chronology, the Flight experienced variable fortune before emerging in its current form as one of the worlds best known historic aircraft collections, maintaining in airworthy condition a Lancaster, a Dakota, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and two Chipmunks.

Avro Lancaster B.MkI.

The PA474 Lancaster is one of only two Lancasters remaining in airworthy condition out of the 7377 that were built. She was built in Chester in mid 1945 and was earmarked for the 'Tiger Force' in the Far East. However, the war with Japan ended before she could take part in any hostilities. She was therefore assigned to Photographic Reconnaissance duties with 82 Squadron in East and South Africa. While operating with 82 Squadron, PA47 had her turrets removed and carried the identification letter 'M'.

Since 2000 the aircraft has been painted in the markings originally worn by Lancaster III EE176 ‘QR-M’ (‘Mickey the Moocher’) of 61 Squadron, based at Skellingthorpe, but 2nd October 2006 saw her last flight in these colours as she was delivered to Air Atlantique at Coventry for a Major Service. PA474 will emerge next year wearing the markings of EE139, the 'Phantom of the Ruhr', a ton-up Lancaster that flew her first 30 ops on No 100 Squadron before completing a further 91 ops on No 550 Squadron. She sports the letters HR-W of 'The Ton' on her port side and BQ-B of 550 on her starboard, effectively commemorating the crews of both Squadrons.

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"Phantom of the Ruhr", 100 Squadron, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Royal Air Force Coningsby, April 2007.
PM-M?.
HW-A.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa
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Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Royal Air Force Coningsby, UK, 2007.

P7350 is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world and the only Spitfire still flying today to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain. She is believed to be the 14th Aircraft of 11,989 built at the Castle Bromwich 'shadow' factory, Birmingham. Entering service in the August of 1940, she flew in the Battle of Britain serving with 266 Squadron and 603 (City of Edinburgh) AuxAF Squadron. Whilst serving with the later at Hornchurch, on or about 25 October 1940, she was involved in a combat with ME Bf 109s and forced to crash land. She ws quickly repaired at No 1 Civilian Repair Unit, Cowley, and flew again on 15th November, only 3 weeks after the crash landing; repaired bullet holes can still be seen in her port wing. She subsequently served operationally with 616 and 64 Squadrons. After April 1942 she was relgated to support dutuies serving with the Central Gunnery School and 57 OTU and ending her operational career with 19 MU.

Hawker Hurricane IIc

The last Hurricane ever built (of 14,533), PZ865 rolled off the production line at Langley, Buckinghamshire, in the summer of 1944 with the inscription 'the Last of the Many' on her port and starboard sides. The aircraft was almost immediately purchased back from the Air Ministry by Hawkers and initially mothballed, before being employed as a company communications and test aircraft. In 1950, wearing the civilian registration G-AMAU, it was entered in the Kings Cup Air Race by HRH Princess Margaret. Flown by Group Capatain Peter Townsend it achieved second place. During the 1960's, PZ865 was returned to its wartime camouflage scheme and was used as a company 'hack' and communicatios aircraft. t appeared in 'The Battle of Britain' film and also made numerous display appearances, often in the hands of famous fighter pilot and test pilot Bill Bedford. After a complete overhaul, PZ865 was flown to Cotishall in March 1972 and given to Memorial Flight by Hawker Siddeley. For many years the aircraft appeared as 'The Last of the Many' but eventually the inscription was removed and put on display in the BBMF headquarters.

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