Battle of Britain Memorial Flight ‘not anticipated’ for D-Day celebration

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) aircraft are ‘not expected’ to fly in D-Day commemorations amid an investigation into the death of a pilot in a Spitfire crash, the RAF has said.

Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed when the Spitfire he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene on Langrick Road just before 1.20pm on Saturday but Mr Long was declared dead at the scene.

Mr Long’s family said he ‘lived his life with an unwavering passion’ and ‘will be cherished and deeply missed’ in a statement.

An RAF spokesperson said earlier this week that a temporary pause was in place while an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

RAF bosses said their Spitfires, a Lancaster bomber and other wartime planes would remain grounded next week.

They had been due to play a key role in the 80th anniversary commemorations of the landings.

Senior officials said the decision was taken ‘regretfully’ but that the cause of last weekend’s crash remained unknown and it would be too risky to fly the other historic aircraft. 

Flypasts at the Trooping the Colour also remain in doubt.

The crashed Spitfire was part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which had been due to perform at events in Portsmouth and in France next week.

The 80-year-old plane crashed shortly after taking off from RAF Coningsby In Lincolnshire on Saturday, killing pilot Squadron Leader Mark Long, a married father of two.

An investigation has begun into the cause of the crash, but has yet to pinpoint what went wrong.

It is understood senior defence officials ruled the entire BBMF fleet should remain grounded while the investigation continued, because of the potential risk to pilots and public safety.

The BBMF has five other Spitfire fighters, two Hurricane fighters, one Lancaster bomber, two Dakota transport planes and two post-war Chipmunk trainers. It had not been announced which of the aircraft would have taken part in next week’s 80th anniversary events, including a flypast over the ferry taking veterans to France

On Friday, the RAF said the cause of the incident ‘remains unknown’, so a decision has been made to continue the pause in flying for the BBMF.

As a result, BBMF aircraft are not expected to be able to participate in the D-Day 80 commemorations on June 5 and 6.

An RAF spokesperson said: ‘On May 25 2024 a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) crashed in the vicinity of RAF Coningsby, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot, Sqn Ldr Mark Long.

‘The Defence Air Investigation Branch (DAIB) are continuing their investigation.

‘At this stage, the cause of the incident remains unknown and therefore, after extensive consultation between the Chief of the Air Staff and relevant senior RAF officers, it has been decided to continue the pause in flying for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).

‘As always, flight safety remains the RAF’s primary concern, therefore BBMF flying will only resume when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

‘As a result, regretfully, BBMF aircraft are not expected to be able to participate in the forthcoming D-Day 80 commemorations over June 5-6 2024.’

RAF Coningsby is home to the BBMF, a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that take part in air shows and memorial displays.

Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the BBMF.

Tributes to Mr Long have also flooded in from The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

And on Tuesday, Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth flew in ‘missing man’ formation to remember their former colleague.

At the time of his death, Mr Long was in his fourth season with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Officer Commanding Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, said: ‘In life, we are occasionally privileged to meet incredible people like Mark.

‘Mark touched the hearts of everyone that he met, always prioritising the needs of others before himself.

‘The epitome of a military fighter pilot, he personified the very best of the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

‘We were lucky to have him as part of the team and part of our BBMF family.

Squadron Leader Long, 43, had just taken off from RAF Coningsby when he sent a ‘Mayday’ message over his radio, the most severe distress message.

Sources said his aircraft crashed about a minute after take-off and that he could not have escaped in time. He died at the scene.

The Spitfire – a Mk IX built in 1944, was involved in D-Day and shot down an enemy aircraft – was overhauled during the winter and had been signed off as safe to fly.

 Mr Long was born in Bury St Edmunds and graduated Initial Officer Training in 2003.

He was then sent to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to fly the Tucano aircraft before gaining his ‘wings’ in 2003.

His Advanced Flying Training was on the Hawk and he was selected to take on the role of an instructor.

Mr Long later converted to the Harrier GR7/9 and was posted to RAF Cottesmore, Rutland.

In 2012, Mr Long joined the Typhoon Force and was assigned to RAF Coningsby.

In 2016, he was the Typhoon Display Pilot and his primary role was to teach student pilots how to operate the jet.

The MoD said that alongside his instructional duties, Mr Long also helped defend UK sovereign airspace by undertaking Quick Reaction Alert duties in the UK, Falkland Islands and while on Baltic Air Policing Operations in Lithuania.