In the years immediately following WWII it became traditional for a Spitfire & Hurricane to lead the Victory Day flypast over London From that event there grew the idea to form a historic collection of flyable aircraft initially to commemorate the RAF s major battle honour The Battle of Britain & latterly with broadened scope to commemorate the RAF s involvement in all the campaigns of WWII Thus in 1957 the Historic Aircraft Flight was formed at Biggin Hill This today is known as The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight now based at RAF Conningsby Lincolnshire