lets try the picture Not too good a picture V7246 is the aircraft in the centre of the left page, in the original the serial is clear and the aircraft to its left is V7100, the next is P2??? and the last one looks like Z3671.The aircraft to the right of V7246 on the fold of the page is ?72??
Annsamtree, very interesting, this aircraft had a complicted history! Forgive my ignorance of Sea Hurricanes but would they ALL have been fitted with arrestor hooks? Obviously if operated from a 'conventional' carrier it would be essential but were some Sea Hurris designated as CAM aircraft from the outset? If so an arrestor hook would not be required as CAM Hurris 'ditched', didn't land on. Mike
Mike a bit here about the Sea Hurricane Hawker Sea Hurricane aircraft profile. Aircraft Database of the Fleet Air Arm Archive 1939-1945 Picture of Hawker Sea Hurricane WW2 Fighter and information
Thanks for all your interest I am not sure what mark now this aircraft was converted to 1A or 1B , there is no mention on which marks were with the MSFU in Sturtivant`s book on RAF training and support units just Sea Hurricanes. Thinking logically I don`t think it should have an arrestor for the simple fact range was key and carrying the extra weight of an arrestor hook and its associated gubbins would affect the range. Under 56 OTU in Sturtivants book in 10/43 the unit had an operating strength of 58 mk1 13 mk1A and 10 mk II Hurricanes
Have just got a book from the library called "Poles in the defence of Britain" by Robert Gretzyngier. It is a day by day account of Polish fighter pilots from Jul 40 to Jun 41. It gives lots of details of the aircraft and men and in an appendix at the back it gives a list of 303 + 302 sqns aircraft and the codes they were allocated. According to the appendix V7246 was on the strength of 303 from 8/40 to 9/40 flying as RF-D. It gives two accounts of the missions that damaged the aircraft, firstly on 3/9 the aircraft was involved in a dogfight with 4 Me109s over Dungeness sustaining damage to the fuselage and tail. On the 27/9 it was involved in a dogfight over Horsham where it shot down a Me109 but was hit by 3 cannon shells,the cockpit filling up with smoke,the aircraft returned to Northolt where it landed safely with a punctured radiator.This was its last flight with 303 as it was taken by 34 MU to Dehavilands for repair. I would recomend this book to anyone researching the Polish contribution to this period, as well as serial code tie ups which pilot was flying which aircraft it points out some of the mix ups in the official paperwork.
Have just had a trip to National Archives during which I checked on a few things,I now think the photo is not at General Aircraft at Hanwell but at the Hurricane repair centre at Langley.Both aircraft were involved in landing accidents while with 52 OTU and were sent to Hawkers for rework,both left Hawkers within a week this would tie up looking at how both aircraft were progressing with their repairs. The reason for thinking the location is now Langley is the picture is a BAe photo and in the book it says the location is Langley though they state it is the production line.
Here are a few more facts about V7246 after a trip to Kew and another visit to Hendon 85 sqn ORB (AIR 27 703-704) No mention of the aircraft in the ORB ,during the period in question all flights listed by code only.Aircraft appeared to be based between Debden and Gravesend. Mosy Hurricanes appear to be gone by 4/41 when Havocs took over. 52 OTU ORB ( AIR 29 681) No flying records in ORB as they were training flights. 1 reference to incident on 11/8/41 at Aston Down "P/O Connolly in Hurricane V7246 made a heavy night landing due to a glycol leak,damaging his undercarriage" RIW Hawkers A 3rd a/c identified in picture as Z3671 was RIW Hawkers between 12/8/41-3/10/41. This is the same period as V7246 and V7100 though no definate location. Picture date around 9/41? MSFU ORB (AIR 29 437) Aircraft serials used only in flying part of ORB no codes, V7246 first operational sortie on 22/6, 4 more flights up to 29/6 the last one being flown by P/O Mcmann.No further entries until 4/9/42 "Normal launch from ship Launch from Empire Day to Valley 0725-0735 Valley to Speke 0820-0845 Flown by P/O Mcmann" From movement card aircraft on CAM ship 1/7/42 ORB for 4Jul 42 "P/O Mcmann + S/LT Shaftoe to Bristol by train Crew 16" From LLoyds register SS Empire Day was in Avonmouth at this time, from here it went to Barry then Belfast before crossing the Atlantic to Halifax.From here down to New York and then Cape Cod.It appears that it was not part of a convoy.Returned to Halifax and sailed on 23/8/42 from here to Liverpool as part of convoy HX204 arriving in Liverpool on 4/9/42. There is no more entries for this aircraft at this unit and nothing in the accident lists for this period to indicate why the aircraft was declared Cat B on 8/9/42 56 OTU ORB (AIR 29 683) No entries in ORB to indicate why declared Cat B on 31/4/44 and no accidents recorded for this aircraft.
Re Post 9# This quote has the incorrect serial given for the Cowden crash. It was not V7289. V7289 crashed at Blundel Lane Stoke D'Abernon, after W.Zak baled out, over leatherhead at 09.30 a.m. and was admitted to hospital with burns. I know this is correct, as I have a 6ft section of the rear fabric which exhibits the serial number. It came from 6ft below ground in Blundel lane along with most of the rest of the aeroplane. Hope that helps. Guy
