BBMF gets Award of Honour from Honourable Company of Air Pilots

OC BBMF, Sqn Ldr Mark ‘Suggs’ Sugden, holds the certificate for the Award of Honour. Left to right: Chief Technician Stu Read, Chief of Staff Flt Lt Emma Phillips, Admin Officer Diane Law-Crookes, Chief Technician Jeff Gullliver, OC BBMF, Capt Jonathan Legat, Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, and Dame Susan Langley DBE, Representative Lord Mayor, City of London.

BBMF

05/12/2023 Military aviation news, News 2 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) has been given the Award of Honour from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP).for “an outstanding and enduring contribution to aviation, not least operating as a living memorial to aviators killed in the service of the nation”..

Office Commanding (OC-BBMF) Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, received the award at The Hounorable Company of Air Pilot’s Trophies and Awards Banquet held at the Guildhall in the City of London in October.

HCAP give the award each year to mark achievement, courage and excellence in aviation and the company recognised BBMFs status as a national institution which upholds the values of the Royal Air Force and stands as a flying memorial to “the few”.

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots Trophies and Awards Banquet in the Guildhall, London, on 26th October 2023. (Image: HCAP)

In giving the award HCAP said: “Now in its 66th year, the BBMF has displayed its aircraft to very many millions of people. In addition, around 25,000 people each year visit the BBMF at its home at RAF Coningsby via the BBMF Visitor Centre and hear the stories associated with the aircraft. The BBMF’s personnel and its wonderful historic aircraft provide a dynamic synthesis of old and new, people and machines, which is a source of great envy for many air forces that do not have an equivalent, and one of great pride for the modern RAF. For an outstanding and enduring contribution to aviation, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is duly recognised by the Award of Honour.”

Image shows a BBMF fly past at the the Battle of Britain Service at Westminster Abbey. ©Crown Copyright

The Battle of Britain Flight is an active squadron within the Royal Air Force tasked with maintaining and flying an Avro Lancaster, Spitfires and Hurricanes, Chipmunks and a DC3 Dakota.

Its mission is to “maintain the priceless artefacts of our national heritage in airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of this country. The RAF BBMF also serves to promote the modern day Air Force and to inspire the future generations.”

Links: Honourable Company of Air Pilots | Battle of Britain Memorial Flight