Mark Long died in the Spitfire crash on Saturday (Picture: Charlotte Graham/Shutterstock)
The RAF pilot who died in a Spitfire crash at a Battle of Britain memorial event ‘will be cherished and deeply missed’, his family has said.
Squadron Leader Mark Long, 43, was taking part in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) when he crashed near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Saturday.
He lived in the county with his wife, two daughters and a dog, and had worked at RAF Coningsby as a Typhoon pilot.
He’d been flying with the BBMF for four years before his death.
Mark’s family paid tribute to him on Thursday, saying: ‘Mark lived his life with an unwavering passion with laughter, love, and dedication to his family.
‘His talent for flying was there for all to see, and his ability to connect to everyone he met was infectious.
He had flown with the BBMF for four years (Picture: RAF)
‘Mark will be cherished and deeply missed by us all.’
Mark was born in Bury St Edmunds and graduated Initial Officer Training in 2003, the MoD said.
He was then sent to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to fly the Tucano before gaining his ‘wings’ in 2003.
His Advanced Flying Training was on the Hawk and he was selected to take on the role of an instructor.
Mark later converted to the Harrier GR7/9 and was posted to RAF Cottesmore. He was the last RAF Harrier pilot qualified to conduct operations off an aircraft carrier.
In 2012, Mark joined the Typhoon Force and was assigned to RAF Coningsby.
In 2016, he was the Typhoon Display Pilot and his primary role was to teach student pilots how to operate the jet.
Alongside his instructional duties, Mr Long also helped defend UK sovereign airspace by undertaking Quick Reaction Alert duties in the UK, Falkland Islands and while on Baltic Air Policing Operations in Lithuania.
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash (Picture: Lee McLean/SWNS)
Paying tribute, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden said: ‘In life, we are occasionally privileged to meet incredible people like Mark.
‘Mark touched the hearts of everyone that he met, always prioritising the needs of others before himself.
‘The epitome of a military fighter pilot, he personified the very best of the Royal Air Force and the BBMF.
‘We were lucky to have him as part of the team and part of our BBMF family. Always a vision of calm, Mark faced life’s obstacles with a wry smile, a knowing nod and a pint of tea.
‘Above all, he was a devoted husband and a proud father.
‘Whilst words alone cannot adequately convey our loss, he will remain forever “the best boss that BBMF never had”.’
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Lincolnshire Police said there was nobody else involved in the single-occupancy plane crash.
RAF Coningsby is home to the BBMF, a collection of wartime fighter and bomber aircraft that take part in air shows and memorial displays.
Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the BBMF.
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