Wanaka Warbird Hurricane

[Bazza]

As mentioned in the previous thread, here's the Hurricane...

Thought I'd posted this a couple of hours ago but it must have gone into orbit....?

[Hagar]

Hooray........! Now that's what I call a real aeroplane.

Sorry. I'm only taking the mickey out of Ozzy. Can't let him have it all his own way. Very nice shot Bazza.

[Felix/FFDS]

Would I be correct if I guess that the Hurri is painted in "Phoney War" colors (full rudder striping to match the French style at the time?)

[C]

I think you may well be right there Felix, this aircraft certainly is a BoB veteran too...

Built at Brooklands in early 1940, P3351 was flown to France on the 1st June as a replacement aircraft for 73 Squadron, who were based at Le Mans. The Battle of France was drawing to a bloody close and the allies were hastily being evacuated from the continent via Dunkirk. The squadron she joined had been active since the opening days of the war and were tangling with the Luftwaffe on a daily basis.

P3351 was uplifted from Rouen on the 3rd June and on arrival at the squadrons advanced landing ground at Echemines the ground crew hastily painted the code ?K? on the side. Flown as part of ?A? flight she undertook defensive patrols over Northern France, covering the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force. On the 7th June disaster struck 73 Squadron when her famous son ?Cobber? Kain was killed as he departed for England.

Further retreats took place and P3351 continued to fly operationally, including bomber escorts and patrols. By the 18th June the squadron was based at Nantes, covering the final evacuation of British troops from St Nazaire and Brest. By early afternoon on that Tuesday, most of the ground crew had departed to the ports and the squadron was flying its last patrols over its retreating crew. The enemy was literally just down the road and just after 2-00pm, the lookout yelled a warning that the Germans were approaching.

In a mad panic, the Hurricanes were refuelled and approximately 18 departed for England. P3351 was one of the last to leave and was flown back across the Channel by Pilot Officer Peter Carter.

Charlie

[ozzy72]

They do have some wonderful kites down your way Bazza, I think it may be time for me to think about getting my bottom over to NZ!

[Woodlouse2002]

Yay! A proper aeroplane for once! None of that Spitfire mumbo-jumbo here!

[Bazza]

That would be great Ozzie, at least you'd have a bed here at my place.     I'd check with Immigration and Customs first though, since the great Marmalade scare they're a bit dodgy about anyone who lives in  areas like you where languages other than the Queens english are spoken.

[Felix/FFDS]

[quote]That would be great Ozzie, at least you'd have a bed here at my place.

[C]

I suppose it's vaguely relevant but yet another BoB veteran Hurricane has just flown in the UK, along with the IAC Spit