WHAT A SIGHT! AVRO LANCASTER PA474 L-LEADER RETURNS FROM VE DAY 80TH FLYPAST SORTIES • RAF CONINGSBY

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) operates from RAF Coningsby. 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 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. His Royal Highness Prince William, Prince of Wales, is the Patron for the BBMF. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) formed on the 11th July 1957 at Biggin Hill as the Historic Aircraft Flight with three Spitfires (PM631, PS853 & PS915) along with last surviving airworthy Hurricane LF363. Many of the aircraft at the time rotated in gate-guard duties including West Malling, Northolt and Bentley Priory. With a few location changes such as Horsham St Faith and Coltishall in 1963, the flight had increased their inventory, including Spitfire Mk V AB910, the very Spitfire that flew an unauthorised passenger, WAAF ground crew Margaret Horton. During “rough weather” there was a procedure for ground crew to hold on the tail of the aircraft to stop the aircraft from topping over nose first. However, the pilot took off with Margaret still only the AB910. Nearly passing out at around 600ft, the pilot realised the Spitfire wasn’t flying right so landed the aircraft with Margaret’s beret flying off as it landed. She managed to land safety, retrieved her beret (it was a 2 week wages forfeit if you lost your beret as it was issued by the King) and the pilot was informed that there were 2 POB. On 20th November 1973, Lancaster PA474 was officially transferred to the BBMF from 44 Squadron at RAF Waddington and the aircraft was flown to RAF Coltishall to join the Flight, which was then based at the Norfolk airfield. Adding the Lancaster to the flight also added “Memorial” to the flight, thus becoming the “Battle of Britain Memorial Flight” In 1976, the BBMF moved to RAF Coningsby and the Lancaster was flying back in Lincolnshire, Bomber County Now, as a ‘museum without walls’, it maintains historic and irreplaceable aircraft: an Avro Lancaster, a C-47 Dakota, 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. RAF Coningsby was built on the 4th November 1940 and was assigned to 5th Group Bomber Command. First residence were 106 Squadron operating the HP Hampdens, followed by 97 Squadron who were equipped with the Avro Manchester. 106 soon converted to the Manchester and had a Wing Commander Guy Gibson commanding them too. With Waddington receiving and operating the Avro Lancaster on 24th December 1941, Coningsby's grass runways were not suitable for the heavy bomber and closed temporarily whilst having the hardened, concrete runways installed. When the base open in the later half of 1943, the Lancasters arrived with 617 Squadron, followed by other Lancaster Squadrons. RAF Coningsby has been a bomber station until 1969 when the "flying can openers" 6 Squadron arrived with the Phantoms at Coningsby. #bbmf #lancaster #battleofbritain #tedconingsby #aircraft #bombercommand #avrolancaster Official Ted Coningsby Merchandise https://tedconingsby.co.uk/shop/ noTEDS https://tedconingsby.co.uk/noteds/ Ted Social stuff Instagram   / ted_coningsby   Facebook   / tedconingsbyuk   X   / tedconingsby   www.tedconingsby.co.uk Ted Coningsby Membership: Join our channel to get access to members only perks. In reality, we rely on your subscriptions to keep our channel growing, so this is a MASSIVE help and thank you to ALL of you who have subscribed. We go all over the country to get the footage we need for you to enjoy but this comes at a cost. Your membership will help fund us with the fuel and the equipment we need...    / tedconingsby