A trip organised by my local U3A group allowed us into the unit’s hangar where photography is welcomed.
The origins of ‘BBMF’ evolved during the 1950’s when it was felt that one way of commemorating the ‘Battle of Britain’ Battle Honour would be to preserve and fly surviving aircraft from that time.
Starting out with a single Supermarine Spitfire it has expanded over the years to include further Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes, the Douglas Dakota and of course the Avro Lancaster.
On the day, there were a couple of aircraft outside. One of which was Spitfire conducting a rather noisy engine test. The rest were tucked up indoors.
ZA947 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Douglas Dakota C3.
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
Built as a Douglas C-47A in 1942 and issued to the ‘United States Army Air Force’.
Almost immediately it was transferred to the ‘Royal Canadian Air Force’ where it stayed until being declared surplus in 1971.
Purchased by the ‘Royal Aircraft Establishment’ and given the RAF serial KG661, it was later given its current markings.
Declared surplus again by the ‘RAE’ in 1992. It was adopted by RAF ‘Strike Command’ and joined the ‘BBMF’ in 1993.
Seen with the Port engine removed and the Starboard engine being worked on and now carrying the name ‘KWICHERBICHEN’.
MK356 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Vickers Supermarine Spitfire LF IXC Coded 5J-K on
‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
Built at Castle Bromwich in 1944 and issued to no. 443 Squadron of the ‘Royal Canadian Air Force’.
Badly damaged after a series of ‘crash’ landings it was reduced to being a maintainence airframe at RAF Halton.
After spending 17 years as a gate guardian at various establishments, restoration started in 1992 being completed in 1997 when it joined the ‘BBMF’.
LF363 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Hawker Hurricane IIC Coded JX-B
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
Built by Hawkers at Langley near Slough in 1943 and is believed to be the last of its kind to join the RAF.
Stored postwar, it became the first aircraft to join the ‘Historic Aircraft Flight’ (the forerunner of the BBMF) in 1957.
Badly damaged by a crash and fire, it was restored between 1994 and 1997.
Currently painted as a Hurricane I of No.1 Squadron. Being flown by Sergeant Arthur Clarke DFM.
PZ865 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Hawker Hurricane IIC coded EG-S
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
The very last Hurricane built out of 14,533 rolled off the Hawker’s Langley production line in July 1944.
Bought by Hawker’s from the Air Ministry, it was initially stored by them until being modified and used as a ‘racer’ carrying the civilian registration G-AMAU.
It made many flying display appearances and appeared in the film ‘The Battle of Britain’.
Overhauled and re painted into its wartime camouflage, it was presented to the ‘BBMF’ in 1972.
Currently painted as a South East Asia Command machine of 1944.
AB910 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Vb Coded SH-F
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
New in 1941. It served with a variety of Squadrons including No.s 222, 130, 133, 242, 416 and 410 accumulating a total 0f 143 operational sorties before being withdrawn from the front line in1944.
It continued in service with support units until being sold onto the civilian market where for a time it carried the registration (G-AISU) being used as an ‘air racer’.
Overhauled in 1953 it appeared on the display circuit until being donated to ‘BBMF’ in 1965.
A further refurbishment was completed in 2015 with the aircraft being painted in the colours of a 64 Squadron aircraft at the time of the D-Day invasion.
P7350 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Vickers Supermarine Spitfire IIa Coded EB-G
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
An original ‘Battle of Britain’ aircraft being the 14th. built out of 11,989 at Castle Bromwich and as such is the oldest airworthy Spitfire in the world.
Serving with No.s 266, 603, 616 and 64 Squadrons before being transferred to support work, it was sold for scrap in 1948.
Saved for preservation and restored to flying condition in 1968 it carried the civilian registration
G-AWIJ and appeared in the film ‘The Battle of Britain’.
After which it was presented to the ‘BBMF’ where it appears in the colours of No 41 Squadron.
PM631 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
Currently under repair, It was built in 1945 but was too late to see wartime service. Stored until 1949, it went on to serve at an Advanced Flying School before being modified for meteorological work.
Delivered to the ‘Historic Aircraft Flight’ which was a forerunner of the ’BBMF’ in 1957.
WG486 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ DHC1 Chipmunk T10 Coded G
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
Currently under repair. One of two Chipmunks at the ‘BBMF’ to keep pilots up to date on piston engined aircraft.
Originally buit as a trainer in 1951 and used at times in Cyprus and Germany on low level reconnaisance flights.
PA474 ‘RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’ Avro Lancaster BI Coded KC-A
on ‘Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
Probably the BBMF’s most famous and most easily reconised aircraft.
Built at Chester by Vickers Armstrong’s in 1945. Having missed the European war, it was prepared for service against Japan but Japan surrendered before it could be used against them.
Initially stored, it eventually went to East and South Africa on survey work until 1952.
Further work was done for the Royal College of Aeronautics at Cranfield testing aerofoil sections mounted above the fuselage which looked like a sharks fin.
In 1965 the aircraft was transferred to No. 44 Squadron (then flying Vulcans) for restoration to begin. This was completed and it was transferred to the ‘BBMF’ in 1973.
The current name shown on the fuselage ‘Thumper Mk III’ was carried by another Lancaster (DV385) which was an aircraft that flew with No. 617 Squadron after the Dams raid.
Having been conducted round the BBMF’s hangar, on the way out I was able to capture photo’s of what else was on view.
RAF Coningsby is known as being the home of the Eurofighter Typhoon so I was surprised to find two Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW 1’s parked up. These are normally based at RAF Waddington.
ZH104 ‘Royal Air Force’ Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW 1 Coded 04
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
ZH101 ‘Royal Air Force’ Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW 1 Coded 01
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
ZK317 ‘Royal Air Force’ Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 Coded ES
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
ZJ812 ‘Royal Air Force’ Eurofighter Typhoon T3 Coded BK
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'
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