One of two remaining airworthy Lancaster bombers to fly over Europe for commemorative flight - Alex Candlin 27th April 2023 at 11:21am

A Lancaster bomber will make a commemorative memorial flight over Belgium and the Netherlands (Picture: MOD).

One of the last two airworthy Lancaster bombers is to take part in a commemorative flight over Belgium and the Netherlands.

As part of the Royal Air Force's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), the Lancaster PA474 aircraft will return to the skies on 4 May.

The aircraft will fly from Knokke in Belgium and make its way over the Netherlands where it will land at Bergen.

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The flight has been arranged by personnel at RAF Coningsby, the home of both the RAF BBMF and the Typhoon Display Team.

The mission of the BBMF is to maintain a number of historic wartime aircraft in airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen, making flights like this a rare occurrence. 

The flight will commemorate the role the Lancaster bomber played in the liberation of Europe, and as a commemoration for Operation Manna when the Lancaster was used to deliver aid to the Netherlands.

The Lancaster is one of the most iconic Second World War aircraft and is famous for its role in the daring Dambusters mission 80 years ago.

Nineteen Lancaster bombers from 617 Squadron took off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire on the night of 16-17 May 1943 to destroy dams in Nazi Germany's industrial heartland and cut off vital supplies in the Ruhr Valley.

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters, the RAF BBMF's Lancaster Lancaster will also be flying around Lincolnshire on 16 May.