RAF
RAF Prepares For Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight
It's the RAF's tribute to the brave aviators of World War Two.
Formed in 1957, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – or BBMF - is comprised of 12 very special aircraft and for the past 40 years, RAF Coningsby has been their home.
Whilst preparations for Armed Forces Day are well underway on the ground, thanks to the RAF's preparations for the BBMF, it's been just as busy in the skies as well.
A Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane in the foreground and an Avro Lancaster in the background
Safely tucked away in a hangar at Coningsby, the BBMF is made up of six Spitfires, a Lancaster, a Dakota, two Hurricanes and two Chipmunks.
Fighters such as Spitfires and Hurricanes are well known, as is the Lancaster Bomber.
The Douglas C-47 Dakota is less well known, though doesn't deserve to be as it was very widely used.
The Douglas C-47 Dakota was used for a variety of roles, including dropping paratroopers
It was the military version of the DC-3 airliner, which first flew in 1935.
The RAF first used it in India in 1942, and it was used throughout the war for carrying troops, cargo, dragging gliders, and deploying paratroops.
A Chipmunk taxiing in front of a Dakota
At the other end of the scale, the very light two-seater Chipmunk was used by the RAF for training during the Second World War.
Forces TV went to meet some of the team as they prepare for one of their biggest days of the year.
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