During the Battle of Britain the RAF used 6 aircraft in defence of this countries skies, Spitfire, Hurricane, Defiant, Blenheim, Gladiator and Beaufighter. This according to http://www.raf.mod.uk/Bob1940/airpower.html
Why then is it the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fly only two of these aircraft along with an aircraft that was not to see service until 1942 in India?
Why doesn’t the BBMF fly any of the other four aircraft that helped keep Hitlers Luftwaffe at bay?
By: MarkG - 18th May 2007 at 17:07
…would you have them sell another Spitfire to pay for it.
Yes, without question. In fact two if necessary:D
By: TempestV - 18th May 2007 at 15:35
BBMF Name
I think that the BBMF name should stay as it is.
Yes it is a bit of a mouth full, but it is the RAF memorial flight, and to this day, the Battle of Britian is surely the most significant campaing the service has ever fought in, and protected the independance of these shores by doing so.
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th May 2007 at 13:33
…would you have them sell another Spitfire to pay for it.
Absolutely! If that were all it took and one were available.
By: Eddie - 18th May 2007 at 11:49
The Mosquito has been mentioned on here before. The BBMF were due to take the BAe Mosquito on charge at the end of the 1996 season. Obviously fate intervened and it didn’t happen.
By: Pete Truman - 18th May 2007 at 09:40
beaufighter in the battle of britain? not sure about that one…….
It was introduced into service in July 1940, without going into too much research, I can only assume as a night fighter.
As for the query list of BBMF a/c, we are talking rare types here that are not around in sufficient numbers to be either affordable to take on or too precious to even contemplate, ie the Defiant.
I recall the BBMF being interested in a Mosquito, but where would that come from now, would you have them sell another Spitfire to pay for it.
By: markstringer - 17th May 2007 at 22:35
beaufighter in the battle of britain? not sure about that one…….
By: WP840 - 17th May 2007 at 21:11
What’s this “not until 1942 in India” jazz?
And why would anyone want to remember the Defiant, Blenheim, or Gladiator?
The first line of the third paragraph here, http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/douglas-dakota.htm
clearly states that the Dakota didn’t eneter service until 1942 in India.
By: David Burke - 17th May 2007 at 21:05
I should imagine the flight was actually formed solely to commemorate the Battle of Britain. Certainly when the flight was formed other types operated by the RAF in wartime were readily available in airworthy condition but not acquired.
As for the Blenheim,Defiant and Gladiator – the people of Norway might wish to commemorate the RAF and FAA use of the type in defence of their homeland and indeed the people of malta have a strong affection to the type too. As for the Blenheim – the very reason that ARCO have strived to keep
a Blenheim in the air over the years is the perception that the Blenheim was a side show compared to other types when it did infact bring the fight to the enermy .
By: Jackonicko - 17th May 2007 at 20:06
What’s this “not until 1942 in India” jazz?
And why would anyone want to remember the Defiant, Blenheim, or Gladiator?
By: Bluebird Mike - 17th May 2007 at 19:51
Grrr, why is it always so hard for people to grasp this?!
Isn’t it obvious, it’s a Memorial Flight in the NAME of the RAF’s major battle honour, i.e.the Battle Of Britain, not a memorial flight solely FOR the Battle! :rolleyes:
By: DGH - 17th May 2007 at 19:18
Because it has the wrong name – technically. Should be the RAF WW2 memorial flight – but it doesn’t have the same ring. 😀
Also if it had to many aircraft the treasury man would say “thats to expensive” and pull the plug.
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May 17, 2007 at 7:07 pm