The tragic death of a pilot in a Spitfire crash has led the Royal Air Force to temporarily ground its fleet of World War II Spitfire planes. The pilot, Mark Long, was killed in a crash near RAF Coningsby base in Lincolnshire, prompting the RAF to pause flying for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. This has raised concerns about the participation of these legendary single-seat fighter aircraft in events planned to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day landings next month.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight features a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that participate in air shows and memorial displays. With only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remaining, six of them are based at RAF Coningsby. These planes were set to take part in a national commemorative event in Portsmouth on June 5 to honor the Allied forces who landed on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago.
It remains unclear when the RAF’s investigation into the crash will be completed or when a decision will be made on whether vintage planes will be allowed to fly again. However, the grounding of the Spitfire fleet casts a shadow over upcoming commemorative events planned for World War II history.
