Hurricats

The Hurricats were Hurricanes lauched from ships (though most of you Brits probably know that). Man, talk about pilots that had to carry them around in a wheelbarrow. Hat's off to those guys. How many Condors did the Hurricats take out?

 

"Hurricats" - Hawker Hurricanes catapault launched from the decks of CAM ships (Catapault Armed Merchantmen) - were scrambled 11 times, and credited with the downing of around 5 enemy aircraft up until the end of 1941. They were flown by both FAA and RAF pilots, and were generally modified, war-weary Mk1s nearing the end of their useful service life. The first FW200 Condor fell to the guns of Lt Everett RNVR on August 3rd 1941, for which he was awarded the DSO.

Despite the undoubted bravery of the pilots, the catapult launch was only a stop- gap measure in response to a desperate situation. Development of a fully adapted Sea Hurricane began in earnest after the disastrous Norwegian campaign highlighted the need for a modern fighter for the Fleet Air Arm. Hawker converted a repaired Hurricane in January 1941 and the decision was made to go ahead with full production shortly afterwards. Refurbished ex RAF Hurricane Mk Is were fitted with catapult launch points, an arrestor hook and other associated naval equipment by General Aircraft Ltd. No wing folding capability, typical of carrier borne aircraft was installed. The Sea Hurricane Mk IA and B were armed with eight machine guns and were powered by the Merlin III. When the cannon armed Hurricane II was navalised it was known as the Sea Hurricane Mk IC. The most famous action involving the Sea Hurricane took place in August 1942 when a large convoy attempted to fight its way to relieve the embattled defenders of Malta. Three Fleet Air Arm Squadrons, 800, 801 and 885 embarked on the fleet carriers HMS Eagle, Victorious and Indomitable. The enemy made a huge effort to prevent the convoy reaching the island and deployed several hundred bombers and fighters against it. Victorious was lost to a U-boat and eight British fighters were lost for the destruction of 39 enemy aircraft. The arrival of the convoy bolstered the defences at a critical time and had a major effect on the course of the war in the Mediterranean.

The Sea Hurricane was replaced by Seafires and American built carrier aircraft from mid 1942.

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</div><div class='quotemain'>Victorious was lost to a U-boat [/b]

Eagle, not Victorious

Adrian

 

The great thing is that after a while, you no longer need them. Who would attack a convoy if they were almost assured to be shut down? Very effective use of an airplane though it seems a shame in this day and age that a hurricane is gone and cannot be flown by this generation. If there was a tragedy it was that. What would we give to have our own private hurricane today? Can you imagine that? Could you imagine the maneuvers and stunts you could do in it? Wow! When I see the nice planes that get destroyed in Hurricanes and are lost forever, I think, man they should have at least let us come down and fly it away from the coast. If the Hurricane hits, they get a small sum from us for the privilege of confiscating the plane that they would have completely lost if it were left there. If the Hurricane misses, we bring the plane by and pay them for the time on it. Instead I see pictures of King Airs picked up and smashed into Citations and Barons, destined for the scrap yard. What a waste. There ought to be a law...

 

Jimbo, not sure if your last post was a serious one or not, but in fact there are several airworthy Hurricanes in private hands today, including at least one in the Unites States.

Once again, Adrian, I stand corrected - thank you. Yes, it was Eagle, not Victorious.

 

(adamcotton @ Nov 21 2005, 05:32 AM) [post=41866]Jimbo, not sure if your last post was a serious one or not, but in fact there are several airworthy Hurricanes in private hands today, including at least one in the Unites States.

Once again, Adrian, I stand corrected - thank you. Yes, it was Eagle, not Victorious.
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Very serious. My statement was that it was a shame that Hurricanes used in the Hurricats were lost on the mission. They are sitting on the bottom of the sea instead of at an airport near me.

 

Ok, I see what you mean. And I agree - I geuss they weren't thinking about posterity back then....

 

You know the US Air Force had over 1800 Mustangs at the start of the Korean War. I am sure that Britian had a bunch of its aircraft too. They were probably all scraped. Could you imagine going to a government surplus sale back then and picking up a couple of Mustangs, a T-Bolt and a few C-47s (you have to carry the spare parts) for the price of scrap metal? You could have put together your own air show. There would have been qualified pilots to fly them where ever you needed them for a song.

 

Yes, you are right. Nowadays, these things cost an absolute fortune, but back then, they were ten a penny!

Ever seen the movie 633 Squadron? I read an article about the making of it that mentioned the Mosquito aircaft used in the filming were picked up for £150.00 each! OK, £150.00 in today's terms is a lot more, but they were still an absolute bargain, and were going to be scrapped anyway.

I think a Mustang or Spitfire costs between £500,000 and £750.000 these days - maybe more. Not sure of the cost of a P-47, don't now how rare they are. If ever I win the lottery...

 

Last time I looked I thought I an airworthy Spit was in the region of £1.75 million.

 

I am surprized that no one has created a business that makes replica models of the favorite WWII aircraft in an assembly line fashion. You have all the plans and specs, you have all the documentation and POH's. Seems to me you could sell them in scads for war movies, aerobatic schools, museums, air shows and private ownership. You don't need real guns. If you could keep them under 200k, you would sell a lot of them along with spare parts.

 

Jimbo

</div><div class='quotemain'>
I am surprized that no one has created a business that makes replica models of the favorite WWII aircraft in an assembly line fashion. You have all the plans and specs, you have all the documentation and POH's. Seems to me you could sell them in scads for war movies, aerobatic schools, museums, air shows and private ownership. You don't need real guns. If you could keep them under 200k, you would sell a lot of them along with spare parts.[/b]

There is a firm making as-new ME262s for sale. See

http://www.stormbirds.com/

I believe someone else is intending to produce FW190s, and definitely some Yak-9 replicas have been flown and sold.

Adam

Were any of the Hurricat pilots lost? Did any succeed in flying to dry land and saving the a/c, or did they always ditch?

Adrian

 

(adamcotton @ Nov 22 2005, 06:20 AM) [post=41927]Ok, I see what you mean. And I agree - I geuss they weren't thinking about posterity back then....
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I am trying to find my list of War materials that were thrown overboard in the Pacific after the Japanese surrender. The numbers I remember add up to the US Government attempting to create a new island.

I will keep trying if no one comes up with the info first.

Ships were ordered to jettison and not bring back any material to the states as it was clogging up the wharves. (Ready to go goods sitting in warehouses that were no longer required in the PTO).


Geoff

 

This is one from an Aussie site about "Aussie Disposals"

Make your own mind up.

http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozatwar/fireatoakey.htm

 

Hi All,

You Warbirds have probably read or even contributed to this site however I enjoyed reading it over a Meat Pie lunch.

Geoff

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Aircraft/Hellcat.htm

 

(spidge @ Nov 21 2005, 09:46 PM) [post=41941]This is one from an Aussie site about "Aussie Disposals"

Make your own mind up.

http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozatwar/fireatoakey.htm
[/b]
That was a cruel post with pilots browsing this thread, Geoff. That must be one of those morbid picture web sites I have always read about. I didn't know you had a dark side! Now, I will have nightmares now where I am tied to a tree in full view while they one-by-one destroy them.

 

An American Heritage museum with a few hard to find pieces and more about the drowning of aircraft after hostilities ended. This time planes from the Panama Canal.

Good to see people stil interested in teaching the children about ww2.

The Site:

http://www.bongheritagecenter.org

The newsletter:

http://www.bongheritagecenter.org/newslett...oads/NL4q03.doc

 

Apologies for getting off topic here guys.

 

Adrian,

Not sure if any of the Hurricanes launched made it back to land, but I do know only one pilot was lost - New Zealander F/Lt Ken Tate, who was killed in August, 1941.

 

(Gnomey @ Nov 21 2005, 10:36 PM) [post=41936]Last time I looked I thought I an airworthy Spit was in the region of £1.75 million.
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Well, I'd better start saving now! They've gone up!!!