Avro Lancaster - Memorial Flight

Photograph of Avro Lancaster "City of Lincoln" in flight

Memorial flight

Photograph of Spitfire P7350, PA474 "City of Lincoln" and Hurricane LF363 in formation

Image: "City of Lincoln", Hurricane LF363 and Spitfire P7350, in formation

The BBMF, the The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, comprises Avro Lancaster PA474 "City of Lincoln", Hurricane LF363 and PZ865, Spitfire P7350, AB910, MK356, PM631, and PS915, Dakota ZA947, and Chipmunk WK518 and WG486. These aircraft form an important living legacy, a unique collection that represents a certain period of our nations history.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight came into existence on 11th July 1957, but was originally called the Historic Aircraft Flight. It comprised three Spitfire aircraft and one Hurricane; of those aircraft Hurricane LF363 and Spitfire PM631 still remain with the Flight. Aircraft were swapped, and a notable example arrived in 1968, Spitfire P7350, a Mark IIa and the oldest airworthy Spitfire which saw service in the Battle of Britain during the summer of 1940.

By 1972 the last production Hurricane, PZ865 arrived to join the Flight and in November 1973 Lancaster PA474 joined the Flight. At the same time the Flight was renamed as the BBMF, the "memorial" part of the title an important addition in recognition of the sacrifice of Royal Air Force men and women in the arena of warfare.

In 1976 the Flight moved to RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, where the Flight remains to this day. In 1993 Dakota ZA947 joined the BBMF as a support aircraft, providing transport and an aircraft for training; while in 1995 two De Havilland Chipmunks joined the Flight. All the aircraft in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight represent the RAF's last flying aircraft of each type. The BBMF is a unit of the Royal Air Force and the majority of the aircrew, ground-crew and support staff with the BBMF give their time voluntarily.

Avro Lancaster PA474 "City of Lincoln" is one of sixteen remaining Lancaster aircraft. Of those aircraft PA474 is one of only two airworthy examples of the aircraft. She is an undoubted star of air shows around the country. Her silhouette and the growl from her four Merlin engines are unmistakable, and send a tingle down the spine of any aviation enthusiast, flyer or veteran.

Long may these aircraft continue to fly.