A commemorative plaque honouring the legacy of RAF Squadron Leader Mark Long, who died in a tragic Spitfire crash, will be unveiled today in Lincolnshire. This fatal event occurred near RAF Coningsby on 25 May 2024 and was a significant moment for the aviation community. The tribute plaque will be located in Market Stainton, in proximity to Market Rasen, and its reveal is scheduled during a dedication ceremony at 13:00 BST. At the age of 43, Squadron Leader Long was on his way to partake in a fly-past to commemorate the crew of a Second World War Lancaster bomber that had crashed in the same village in 1943.
The impetus for the commemorative plaque came from Dan Grant, a retired airline captain and aviation historian based in Quebec, Canada. Grant, whose cousin Flying Officer Francis Archie Randall was the pilot of the Lancaster bomber, has worked tirelessly to honour the legacy of both the Lancaster crew and Squadron Leader Long. The RAF have sponsored the plaque; they remember Squadron Leader Long as a dedicated individual crucial to preserving RAF history and the freedoms we cherish today.
Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, the commanding officer of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, is expected to attend the ceremony, underlining the enduring impact of Squadron Leader Long’s life and work. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fleet, which was grounded after the crash, has since returned to operational status and is expected to feature in future display events.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting from www.bbc.com.
