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WorldWar2.ro Forum > ARR - Romanian Royal Aeronautics > Fate of Rumanian Hurricanes after Bessarabian camp

Posted by: antoni November 04, 2012 10:19 am

A question has been asked as to weather Hurricanes and Spitfires ever met in combat. It has been suggested that

"Eskadrila 51 certainly retained a number of these in service during 1943 (along with an odd assortment of IARs, late 109Es and He 112s), and possibly Esk. 53, as well. Esk. 51 fought a number of battles over the Kuban during the spring/summer of 1943 against the Russian's 57 GvIAP, who at the time were flying Spitfire Mk Vbs"

I thought that after the Bessarabian campaign the Hurricanes were withdrawn and no longer used for combat.

Can someone enlighten me as to what units the Hurricanes served with and to what purpose they were used for following the Bessarabian campaign?

Posted by: Dénes November 04, 2012 11:26 am

QUOTE (antoni @ November 04, 2012 04:19 pm)

I thought that after the Bessarabian campaign the Hurricanes were withdrawn and no longer used for combat.

Your thought is correct.

Gen. Dénes

Posted by: MMM November 04, 2012 02:59 pm

And that was because they were quite obsolete and missed the spare parts, right, Denes?
OoT: I've found in the archives a request from Skoda workers to get acces to the frontline; more exactly, they needed to visit the units which had "Skoda materials" to inspect and service them. Interesting, isn't it?

Posted by: Dénes November 04, 2012 10:09 pm

QUOTE (MMM @ November 04, 2012 08:59 pm)

And that was because they were quite obsolete and missed the spare parts, right, Denes?

Yes, you're right.

Gen. Dénes

Posted by: Florin November 05, 2012 04:38 am

QUOTE (MMM @ November 04, 2012 09:59 am)

And that was because they were quite obsolete and missed the spare parts...

I think the most important factor was the unavailability of spare parts.
If the Romanian Royal Air Force would have replacement components for them, I bet that by 1944 they would be still in service somewhere in Romania. "Oldies, but goldies!"
When that Romanian Sergeant Major defected with his Ju-88 in July 1943, he was "welcomed" by Hurricanes when he was close to Cyprus Island.
The British withdrew them from the European chess table in 1943. In the Far East, they continued being on duty. The last Hurricane was manufactured in Canada in September or October 1944. It was mostly a symbolic gesture - with the last one, they got a nice round number of manufacturing.

Posted by: antoni November 05, 2012 03:21 pm

Thank you for confirming what I already suspected.

RAF squadrons operated Hurricanes at home and abroad throughout the WW II and even after.

The last Canadian built Hurricane left Canadian Car and Foundry, Fort William (later called Thunder Bay) in June 1943. After that production of Helldivers began.

The last Hurricanes to be built were under the tenth and final production batch by Hawker Aircraft Ltd, Kingston and Langley during 1943 and 1944 as part of Contract 62305/39/C Pts 13-19. Pt 20 of this contract for 143 Hurricane Mk IVs and Vs was cancelled 1st Dec 1943. Deliveries commenced 29th Sep 1943 and completed with the exception of PZ865 on 24th May 1944.

The last Hurricane to enter service was Mk IIc LF363. First flew on 1st Jan 1944 and deliverd to 5 MU, Kemble 28th Jan 1944. The first unit with which it served was 63 Squadron at Turnhouse from 30th March 1944. After two months it transferred to 309 (Polish) Squadron at Drem. Returned to 63 Squadron 2nd Nov and then on to 26th Squadron Tangmere 30th Nov. Before the war’s end it was with 62 OTU at Ouston. LF363 has continued to be on charge with the RAF and is now part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The last Hurricane built was PZ865. Completed at Langley on 27th July 1944 bearing the name ‘Last of the Many’ on both sides of the fuselage. It did not enter squadron service. Instead it was bought back from the Air Ministry by Hawker and used as a communications and test aircraft. On 1st May 1950 it was placed on the civil register as G-AMAU and took part in the King’s Cup air race. It appeared in the 1952 film Angels One-Five. In 1960. In 1972, after being restored to flying condition it was gifted to the BoBMF where it still flies today.