Curtiss Hawk II

thethrill820 · April 22, 2024, 7:49pm

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Curtiss Hawk II

ROCAF

Background

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In 1932, Curtiss implemented minor enhancements to the BF2C-1, incorporating a Wright R-1820-F3 7 engine, removing the landing hook, and introducing it as an export-model Hawker under factory code name No. 35. A total of 126 aircraft were manufactured, with 107 being exported to 8 different countries. The cost varied from US$11,825 to US$15,700. Initially, Turkey acquired the aircraft, dubbing it the “Turkish Eagle”. Additionally, Germany procured 2 units for research purposes.

In March of 1933, the renowned American aviator Doolittle was recruited by the Curtiss Company to travel to China and pilot Hawker aircraft for flight demonstrations at various locations. Subsequently, in 1934, he took to the skies in a Hawker II aircraft for a performance during an aircraft naming ceremony in Shanghai. The Nationalist Government utilized the donations to procure 50 Hawker IIs (export number C/ns H-47-63.H-66-79). The initial shipment of 18 aircraft was received between March and May 1933, followed by a second shipment of 17 aircraft between June and July of the same year, and a third shipment of 14 aircraft between August and September of the same year (with one aircraft sustaining damage during transportation).

The local government of Guangdong also acquired a number of Hawker IIs simultaneously. These aircraft were then assembled at the Shaoguan Aircraft Repair Factory following customs clearance in Guangzhou. Subsequently, they became the most cutting-edge fighters in the Guangdong Air Force. After the merger of the Guangdong Air Force into the Nanjing National Government Air Force in July 1936, the Hawkers were consolidated and assigned to the 28th Squadron of the 5th Air Force Group, as well as the temporary 34th Squadron consisting of pursuit aircraft instructors from the Central Aviation School.

Following the eruption of the Sino-Japanese War, the aircraft engaged in conflicts in Shanghai and Nanjing, although its primary deployment was in the Guangzhou and Shanxi battlefields. On the 21st of September, 1937, Chen Qiguang, the leader of the 28th Squadron of the Chinese Air Force, piloted this aircraft and successfully brought down the Japanese ace over Taiyuan. By the conclusion of the same year, due to the inadequate performance of the Hawker II in aerial combat situations, all existing aircraft were reassigned to the Central Aviation School in Kunming for utilization as training aircraft.