PLANE DOWN
Horror as Spitfire plane crashes in field during Battle of Britain event at RAF Coningsby
Cops and emergency services have scrambled to the airfield
A SPITFIRE has crashed in a field during a Battle of Britain event.
Cops scrambled to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm.
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The Spitfire went down in the vicinity of RAF Coningsby as part a Battle of Britain event.
The legendary British fighter was owned by the RAF, who said in a statement they were working with emergency services and supporting those involved.
A rescue helicopter is understood to have landed at the airfield after flying from Humberside.
No details of casualties have been reported.
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Lincolnshire Police said: "Emergency services are in attendance following reports of an aircraft crashing in a field just before 1.20pm.
"It is believed to be a single occupant aircraft and nobody else is thought to have been involved.
"Road closures are in place in the areas of Dogdyke Road and Sandy Bank."
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A spokesperson added: "Motorists are asked to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.
"Further updates will follow as soon as available. Incident 221 of 25/05/24."
The RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight were due to display at a World War Two day at the Lincolnshire Aviation Centre at East Kirkby airfield.
The civilian airfield is just nine miles from RAF Coningsby where the BBMF are based and has close links with the RAF.
As part of the "Lanc, Tanks and Military Machines" event a Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane were due to flyover at 13.30pm today.
A pilot was killed last August when a replica Spitfire crashed near an A-road in the Oxfordshire village of Enstone.
Spitfire enthusiast Trevor Bailey had warned flying the plane was "great fun but can be challenge" before the horror crash.
Another Spitfire flipped and nosedived in front of terrified onlookers during an airshow in northern France in 2017.
What is a Spitfire?
Spitfires played a crucial role in the war, especially during the Battle of Britain which earned the plane's power status.
Designed as a short-range, high-performance plane, over 20,300 Spitfires were built to secure British success during WW2.
The Battle of Britain, which lasted for several months between July and October of 1940, cemented its place in history as a turning point in the war.
It proved to be a watershed moment for the Nazis’ territorial aims as they then shifted their focus to conquering Britain.
Aware of the resilience of the RAF, German aircrafts bombarded British airfield bases until the autumn of 1940.
But eventually the Luftwaffe and Hitler's designs on Britain were wrestled away from the Nazis after Britian won air superiority, in large part thanks to the legendary fighter plane.
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