Here is some history about this Hurricane
Thank you for your recent e-mail.
I am not certain as to which photograph you refer?
I believe it is one that shows a pilot looking towards his port wingtip but the code is unclear and you can only make out the last two digits of the Serial Number. The Serial Number is probably P3522 as you state in you e-mail but the call code may infact be 'T'?
The pilot in the Hurricane is Flying Officer Rupert Frederick Smythe No. 40436 of No. 32 Squadron and the photograph was taken at Hawkinge on Monday 29th July 1940 (not the 31st July 1940 as stated in your e-mail). The photograph was one of a set taken by representatives of the Fox Film Co. who visited the airfield to take photographs for an 'instructional film'.
The aircraft was taken on strength by No. 32 Squadron in June 1940 and was damaged in combat at 6.00pm on Thursday 15th August 1940 off Selsey Bill. The pilot on this occasion was Sergeant Bernard Henson who made a forced-landing at Tangmere Airfield. (Sgt. Henson was shot down and killed by Adolf Galland on 17th November 1940 whilst serving with No. 257 Squadron).
Rupert Smythe was born in Killiney, County Dublin and joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1937. On completion of training he joined No. 29 Squadron in October 1938 and was posted to No. 504 Squadron in September 1939. He was posted to No. 32 Squadron in May 1940 where he became a 'Fighter Ace' claiming 6 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 unconfirmed destroyed and 1 damaged. Rupert Smythe was shot down and wounded over Hawkinge on the 24th August 1940. He was awarded the DFC, but did not return to operations and left th RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.
He subsequently ran a public house in Fakenham, Norfolk and is believed to have died in the late 1950's or 1960's
