One of the world's last surviving Lancaster bombers has taken to the skies to mark 50 years of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The aircraft, taking part in a flypast at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, is one of only two airworthy Lancasters. More than 7,000 Lancasters were built during the 1940s and played a major part during World War II.
Veterans from Bomber Command are at the rededication of the plane, which has been restored in Coventry. One of the pilots, Gp Capt Stuart Atha, said it was a privilege to fly the Lancaster.
"You can read about things, you can watch films but here you can smell, you can hear and you can see it. And we get the opportunity to feel it as well. "When we fly this aircraft, we very much remember what the guys who sat in the very same seats that we're sitting in went through." The only other flying Lancaster is in Canada.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is an historic collection of aircraft that commemorate the RAF's involvement in all the campaigns of WWII. It includes the Lancaster, a Dakota, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and two Chipmunks.
