News & competitions

Header Image: Club member Rory Weatherburn won the Spitfire cockpit experience Club ballot prize for March, and took up his prize on 4th August, getting the rare opportunity to sit in the cockpit of BBMF Spitfire Mk XVI TE311 (Photo: Clive Rowley)

Club member Rory Weatherburn from Ancaster, Lincolnshire, was the lucky winner of the March ballot prize, a Spitfire cockpit experience at the BBMF’s home at RAF Coningsby. Rory took up the prize on Monday 4th August, bringing his wife Sue with him to the BBMF hangar.

Header Image: Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank VC in wartime (left) and in later life (right).

Many readers will have seen that the death of Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank VC was announced on 16th August. We felt that we should acknowledge his passing and pay our respects. Even in the remarkable annals of the Victoria Cross, the fortitude and endurance shown by John Cruickshank in winning this highest award for valour stand out.

The RAF Memorial Flight Official Club 2025 calendar photo for September was this beautiful image of BBMF Lancaster B.1 PA474, in its current markings as ‘AR-L’ “Leader” of 460 Squadron RAAF, which was taken by Club member Neil Pearson.