The Royal Air Force (RAF) has named the pilot who died in yesterday’s Spitfire crash as Squadron Leader Mark Long describing him as “a great friend, colleague and a passionate, professional aviator.”
San Ldr Long’s Spitfire crashed on the perimeter of RAF Coningsby, where the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is based just after 1pm yesterday afternoon.
His full-time role with the Royal Air Force was as a front line Eurofighter Typhoon pilot and, like all BBMF pilots, volunteered for the BBMF in addition to his normal duties.
In s atatement, the Commander of the Display Air Wing Group Captain Robbie Lees said: “It is with great sorrow that I must confirm the death of Squadron Leader Mark Long.
“Mark was a Typhoon pilot here at RAF Coningsby and for the last four years, he has been a pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. A great friend, colleague, and a passionate, professional aviator he will be sorely missed by all that knew him.
“An investigation into the cause of this tragic event has now begun. The RAF will not be offering any comment on the accident until that investigation has concluded, and likewise, we ask others not to speculate.
“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the RAF personnel and our emergency services colleagues who responded so swiftly yesterday.””I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the RAF personnel and our emergency services colleagues who responded so swiftly yesterday.
“Our thoughts remain with Mark’s family and friends to whom we offer our deepest sympathies. We ask that their privacy be respected at this tragic and shocking time.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales had previously led tributes to the pilot following the accident.