Ian Smith joined the RAF in 1983 and has been flying ever since, amassing over 6,000 hours in the air. His first operational posting was to Chinook helicopters based in Germany, with tours in Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands. Following a tour as a flying instructor at Linton-on-Ouse he was posted to N^o 41(F) Squadron flying Jaguars at RAF Coltishall and took part in operations over Iraq and Bosnia. A tour as a Red Arrows pilot was followed by a year in Saudi Arabia as Team Manager for the then embryonic Saudi Hawks Aerobatic Team. Returning to the Jaguar Force, he saw the aircraft out of service at RAF Coningsby and was then posted to RAF Cranwell where he instructed on the Grob Tutor, and commanded N^o 16(R) Elementary Flying Training Squadron. ‘Smithy’ has flown the BBMF fighters since 2006 and completed 4 display seasons as a volunteer fighter pilot, pre-selected to take over as OC BBMF, before taking command of the Flight in November 2009. This system of succession for the post of OC BBMF, which will now continue into the future, ensures that each new OC BBMF gains the necessary experience before taking command of the Flight for a 3-year tour. The Officer Commanding is responsible for overseeing all the operations, administration and engineering functions on the Flight, and for the overall planning and management of the extensive display programme undertaken by the BBMF every year. He also holds the post of Fighter Leader, responsible for training the BBMF fighter pilots each year and for conducting air tests on the BBMF fighter aircraft.

I take great pride in leading the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAF BBMF) into the 2012 display season. We are very much looking forward to being able to display and conduct flypasts for you during the year. The BBMF is a ‘museum without walls’ and we will bring the sight and sound of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Lancaster and Dakota to every corner of our country.

I hope you will find the information about the BBMF held on this website interesting and thought provoking.

You may have seen the televised drama-documentary version of Geoffrey Wellum’s book ‘First Light’. In his summary he said, “We don’t want thanks, we don’t want medals, we just want to be remembered”. He, and all his brave colleagues, can rest assured that we, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, hold that ethos at our very core. We will ceaselessly strive to ensure that all those who have fought in the air for the freedom of this country, and especially those that paid the ultimate price, will always be remembered. ‘Lest We Forget’.

Images:

Header Image: ( Larger size) 'Smithy' smiling in a cockpit of the Silver Spitfire MK356 (Photographer: Jarrod Cotter)

Image 1: ( Larger size) Sqn Ldr Ian Smith; OC BBMF