Grounding of Spitfire Planes
The decision to ground the fleet of World War II Spitfire planes by Britain’s Royal Air Force follows a tragic crash that claimed the life of pilot Mark Long during a Battle of Britain event at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, eastern England. The incident occurred on Saturday (May 25) when the Spitfire, renowned for its role in the Battle of Britain, crashed near RAF Coningsby.
Impact on Commemorative Events
The grounding of the Spitfires has cast doubt on their participation in upcoming events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Notably, on June 5, 1944, the Allied forces embarked on the invasion of Normandy, famously known as D-Day. The coming events in the UK marking 80 years since D-Day include a national commemorative gathering in Portsmouth on June 5.
Temporary Flying Pause
An RAF spokesperson stated, “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.”
Accident Details
The accident occurred when the Spitfire was scheduled to participate in a flyover at the “Lanc, Tanks and Military Machines” event at the Lincolnshire Aviation Centre in East Kirkby. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), responsible for operating historic aircraft to honor RAF personnel who fought in the Battle of Britain, includes iconic planes like the Avro Lancaster, Supermarine Spitfire, and Hawker Hurricane.
Memorial Celebrations
Key figures like King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince of Wales are expected to gather in Normandy for the memorial celebrations. World leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also attend the memorial celebrations.
