Simviation Forums

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.