RAF grounds Battle of Britain planes after demise of spitfire pilot
- Mark Long was tragically killed in a Spitfire crash on Saturday afternoon
The RAF has grounded the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) planes after a Spitfire pilot was killed in a shock crash.
Squadron Leader Mark Long’s plane crashed a few minutes after taking off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire as part of a memorial show to mark the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Saturday afternoon.
The RAF have now said they have taken the decision to ground BBMF aircraft – which operates six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft – while investigations into the crash take place.
A spokesperson said: ‘Following the tragic accident at RAF Coningsby, and while the formal investigation is ongoing, the RAF has instigated a temporary pause in flying for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).’
Squadron Leader Mark Long pictured pictured beside an RAF aircraft
Sqn Ldr Mark Long pictured reading a map on an RAF airplane
Mark Long flying the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire MK356
Pictured are floral tributes and handwritten notes left at the scene yesterday
Tributes left by supporters at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, for renowned pilot Mark Long
Grief-stricken supporters Nicki Housam, 53, a former prison officer and partner Andy George, a construction manager, pay their respects to the pilot
The RAF also paid tributes to the father-of-two in a touching statement, describing him as ‘a great friend, colleague and a passionate, professional aviator’ who will be ‘sorely missed’.
The Typhoon pilot took to Instagram just weeks before the memorial show to share his excitement.
In a post dated March 4, the Squadron Leader shared videos of Hurricane and Spitfire airplanes in flight with the caption:
‘We are only a few weeks away from getting back flying in these iconic aircraft. Cannot wait!!!’
In a post dated March 4, the Squadron Leader shared videos of Hurricane and Spitfire airplanes in flight with the caption: ‘We are only a few weeks away from getting back flying in these iconic aircraft. Cannot wait!!!’
In an older post, the experienced pilot shared a video explaining why they have to be careful about the conditions they fly the vintage aircrafts in.
‘We have landed here with the Hurricane and Spitfire ready for react later this afternoon. The reason we landed in Gloucester is actually for cross winds.
‘I’ll show you around the aircraft and you will see what we are operating and why we are so precious about how we pick our winds, surface and flying conditions.’
From under the Hurricane, Long said: ‘What a lovely summer we are having right now as temperatures are soaring. The unique element of the Hurricane is that it gets really hot inside but it actually does quite well at keeping itself cool,
‘So you have got the massive propeller at the front of the 17-litre Merlin engine but that on the ground forces the air through the radiator’.
Leading tributes to the pilot yesterday, Gp Capt Robbie Lees, commander of the RAF’s Display Air Wing, said: ‘Mark was a Typhoon pilot here at RAF Coningsby and for the last four years he has been a pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
‘A great friend, colleague, and a passionate, professional aviator he will be sorely missed by all that knew him.’
He said an investigation into the cause of the ‘tragic event’ was now underway.
‘I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the RAF personnel, and our emergency services colleagues who responded so swiftly yesterday.
Squadron Leader Mark Long shared footage of a World War II-era plane in flight just weeks before his tragic death. In the post, he said he ‘cannot wait’ to fly the vintage aircraft in a few weeks
The scene where the pilot died in a crash during a Battle of Britain event near RAF Coningsby
A Spitfire flown by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight pilot Mark Long in April
The RAF said in a touching statement that he was ‘a great friend, colleague and a passionate, professional aviator’
‘Our thoughts remain with Mark’s family and friends to whom we offer our deepest sympathies. We ask that their privacy be respected at this tragic and shocking time.’
This was the first fatality involving a BBMF aircraft since its creation in July 1957, a retired RAF leader told the BBC.
BBMF operates six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft.
The pilot qualified to fly Spitfires in 2021 and was lined up to take over running the BBMF next year.
His most recent RAF posting was as a flight commander flying Eurofighter Typhoons.
He joined the Air Force in 2003, having graduated from the University of Warwick.
During his career, Sqn Ldr Long was posted to 11 Squadron at Coningsby, deploying to the Baltics and the South Atlantic.
A spectator who witnessed the horrific moment the Spitfire plane nose-dived to the ground, killing the pilot instantly, said: ‘Sadly he didn’t stand a chance.’
The former RAF air craftsman, speaking after the death of the experienced and respected flier during a Battle of Britain event, said: ‘I’ve seen a lot of terrible things in my life but this is up there with the worst.’
Sqn Ldr Long flying the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire MK356 last weekend
Mark, who declined to be fully named, saw the horror unfold as he was plane spotting with his partner and her RAF fan 10-year-old son from a car park overlooking the base.
Recalling the tragedy, he said: ‘There was an event going on and I saw a Spitfire taking off and flying at about 300 feet towards East Kirkby.
‘It was in the distance and suddenly it turned round and was coming back to base. It was swaying and swaying from one side to the other. He would have known there was a problem with the craft and it was awful to watch.
‘The pilot would have realised there was a fault and was coming back to try and land safely but suddenly it just plummeted from about 150 feet.
‘It just nose-dived, sadly the pilot didn’t stand a chance. The way it went down so quickly and people were watching from the car park in horror and disbelief.
‘I was hoping it would be a different outcome but I knew there was no surviving that.
‘I was there with my partner and her son, who was beside himself with sadness, like many of us. It was devastating to watch.
‘You just don’t expect something like this to happen .’
Tony, speaking yesterday as he lay flowers at the much loved RAF base along with dozens of air enthusiasts and supporters, added: ‘A Hurricane was going to take off after the Spitfire but his flight was aborted.’
He said the pilot ‘must have known there was a problem and he was in difficulty’ and would have raised the alarm, saying: ‘He would have radio called because in less than a minute the fire service and ambulances were there.
‘The whole episode from take off to crash probably only lasted two and a half minutes.
Tributes left by supporters at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire to the deceased pilot
Dozens of flowers have been left lined up along the fence by the airfield
Heartwarming handwritten notes accompany some flowers, reading ‘fly high’
The location where the Spitfire crashed in a field on on Langrick Road at RAF Coningsby
Emergency services arrived following reports of a crash of a single-occupant aircraft in a field on Langrick Road (stock image)
‘It is too difficult to estimate the speed.’
‘I couldn’t clearly see the spot it came down but pictures show it was right beside a house and a tractor so no doubt other people witnessed it too. It is a terrible tragedy.’
The man, who lives locally, told how he often took his step son to watch the planes in action at the airfield.
He paid warm tribute to the pilot as a ‘remarkable and wonderful man’ and thrilled children with his ‘pep talks.’
He recalled: ‘At the end of a flight Mark would always make a point of coming up to the big wire fence and give the kids a pep talk through it.
‘He’d still be in his uniform, and he’d still have his flight maps pinned to his trousers, above the knees and would pass them to the children through the fence.
‘I didn’t know him personally but I knew him by reputation as a great pilot and a remarkable and wonderful man.
‘He always made time to speak to people so I had to come here today to pay my respects.
‘He told the kids that it was dream to become a pilot but he had failed four or five times.
‘His message to them was never to give up and that you can always live your dream.
‘It is such a terrible tragedy that it was to end in this way for him.’
The Spitfire came down at around 1.20pm on Saturday during a display at RAF Coningsby.
File image shows the Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, at RAF Fairford last year
Photos from the scene show emergency services gathered around the wreckage of the plane just feet away from a house.
It had been taking part in a civilian airshow just nine miles from the base to commemorate the RAF’s role in fending off German attacks during the Second World War
This year represents the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared their condolences, saying they were ‘incredibly sad’ to hear of the tragedy.
Kate and William, who himself served as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, said in a joint statement that it was ‘incredibly sad to hear of the news’ and added that their ‘thoughts this evening are with the pilot’s loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family.’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote on X: ‘Awful news to see the life of a serving RAF pilot cut short in this tragic event. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news, and thanked the emergency services for their response, adding ‘my thoughts are with the pilot’s family at this awful time.’
The crash has been described as a ‘tragic accident’ by officials but an investigation has been opened into the cause.
Police and ambulance crews raced to the scene and a rescue helicopter was scrambled from neighbouring Humberside.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence stated: ‘It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today [Saturday].
‘The pilot’s family has been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this time.’
The pilot who was tragically killed in a Spitfire crash during a Battle of Britain event has been named as a Squadron Leader Mark Long (pictured) due to take over the memorial fight next year
Spitfires played a crucial role in the war, especially during the Battle of Britain which earned the plane’s power status.
Designed as a short-range, high-performance plane, over 20,300 Spitfires were built to secure British success during WW2.
It proved to be a watershed moment for the Nazis’ territorial aims as they then shifted their focus to conquering Britain.
Aware of the resilience of the RAF, German aircrafts bombarded British airfield bases until the autumn of 1940.
