The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain with a series of commemorative flights and events in September. Originally scheduled for Battle of Britain Day on 15th September, high surface winds forced the postponement to Friday, 19th September. Three BBMF fighter aircraft participated in the tribute: Spitfire IIa P7350, Hurricane Mk II LF363 (painted in 303 Squadron Battle of Britain markings), and Spitfire PR Mk XIX PM631. The aircraft were pre-deployed to Lee-on-Solent (Solent Airport Daedalus) the day prior in preparation for the commemorative sortie.
The day began with a dawn television interview on Good Morning Britain featuring Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, Officer Commanding BBMF. Joining the team in the air was a privately operated two-seat Spitfire T9 SM520 G-ILDA, piloted by Matt Jones of Spitfire.com with British astronaut Tim Peake in the rear cockpit. SM520, normally based at Goodwood, is painted in the 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron Battle of Britain scheme.
Later that morning, the four aircraft flew in formation along the south coast before conducting a flypast at the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone at 11:00 a.m. The formation also provided the opportunity for an air-to-air photo session, with aviation photographer Darren Harbar capturing the flights from a Spitfire.com GippsAero Airvan, frequently used as a chase plane for the company’s Spitfire experiences.
After landing, Tim Peake, a former military pilot and test pilot, reflected on the experience: “What an incredible honour to participate in this Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. We took off after a thorough briefing from Squadron Leader Mark ‘Suggs’ Sugden, leading Fighter Formation. But as soon as the roar of Merlin engines filled the air, my thoughts turned to the tens of thousands of sorties flown without the luxury of time or full briefings during the summer of 1940. The young pilots scrambling from airfields across southern England faced stakes that could not have been higher. This sortie was a deeply emotional and powerful experience, one we will never forget.” The commemorations concluded on Sunday, 21st September, when BBMF Lancaster PA474 overflew Westminster Abbey, London, following the Battle of Britain 85th anniversary thanksgiving and rededication service.
