Speaker Richard Gibby talking about – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Richard Gibby, a former member of the RAF Memorial Flight made a very interesting and well-received zoom presentation to Bishopsteignton Probus Club about the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

In 1957, the original “Historic Aircraft Flight” was formed at RAF Biggin Hill with three spitfires and one hurricane. The fledgling Flight made a series of moves to other RAF bases until in 1969 it changed its name to “Battle of Britain Flight”, after which its HQ was at RAF Coningsby with additional planes. The Flight team has an annual display season from April to the end of September, during which time they undertake around 1,000 public events, including the Quueen’s Birthday Flypast and displays at air shows.

The increase in planes, includes a Lancaster bomber used during World War Two, which is one of 7,377 built, some 3,249 of which were lost on operations with another 200 or so destroyed or written off in crashes. Of the 125,000 aircrew in Bomber Command during World War Two, over 73,700 were killed, injured or made prisoners of war. Richard ended his presentation by reminding his audience that the Flight’s obligation is to ensure these men and women are not forgotten – “Remember the many.”