JEC South Lincs. - June 2021,Club ZOOM Meeting.

Fifteen members joined our monthly Zoom meeting to watch Wing Commander (retired) Dave Gledhill’s fascinating presentation about the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Formed in 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill as the Historic Aircraft Flight, with one Hurricane and three Spitfires, the BBMF eventually moved to RAF Coningsby in 1976. It now boasts twelve aircraft, including one of just two airworthy Lancasters.

Dave charted the Spitfire’s evolution from the Merlin powered Mark 1 to the pressurised Mark 19, powered by a Griffin engine capable of reaching over 40,000 feet and 450mph. Bringing this history to life with tales of heroic pilots’ exploits, Dave described Margaret Horton’s unwitting flight, clinging to the tail of a Mark 5 until the pilot re-landed his unwieldy aircraft. Margaret was fined for losing her beret!