TYPE: One seated fighter
AMOUNT IN NORWEGIAN SERVICE: 18
ARMAMENT
8x 7.7 x 56R machinegun in each wing
TECHNICAL DATA
Wing span: 12.19 m
Length: 9.58 m
Wing area: 23.97 m²
Powerplant:
1 X PE Rolls-Royce Merlin II/III, 1030 hp
Empty weight: 2.308 kg
Loaded weight: 3.024 kg
PERFORMANCE
Max speed at 5.410 m: 508 km/h
Cruising speed at 4,575 m: 438 km/h
Time to 4,575 m: 6.3 min
Service ceiling: 10,120 m
Range: 716 km
SERIAL NUMBERS - times in service and fates
HISTORY
The Hawker Hurricane was still a modern fighter in 1940 and, along with the Supermarine spitfire, received much of the credit for the outcome of the Battle of Britain. It was developed in 1934 by Sydney Camm, who was a designer at Hawker Aircraft Ltd and in terms of construction was a middle ground between the old biplanes that had been largely dominant until then, and the new generation of monoplanes that came to characterize the end of the 1930s . It was cheaper to produce than the Spitfire, and easier to maintain for the ground crews due to its light and familiar tube, wood, canvas and aluminum construction. The aircraft went into production in 1936 and flew for the first time on 12 October 1937. During the Battle of Britain, the Hurricane became the workhorse responsible for the majority of shooting down of German aircraft. There were twice as many such aircraft available for deployment as Spitfires, and the aircraft were light and airworthy and a steady weapons platform. In terms of performance, it was not as fast as the Spitfire and the German Messerchmitt Bf 109, but was just as manoeuvrable. When the battle was over, the Hurricane’s era as a front-line fighter also ended, and the aircraft were deployed as night fighters, fighter-bombers or assigned to other divisions in other front sections. However, the aircraft type was in production until 1944 and in active combat service throughout the war. It was also widely used in North Africa, among other places
When No 331 (N) Squadron was established at RAF Station Catteric in Yorkshire on 21 July 1941 it was allocated the well-used Hurricane Mk.1 The first aircraft arrived on 28 July and over the next few days the force was fully operational. The planes were worn and in poor technical condition. They had probably served during the Battle of Britain the previous autumn, and one of them was wrecked on arrival. However, they did not have a long career with the squadron. On August 7, a machine had engine problems and had to make a belly-landing. A few days later on August 11, a machine landed with its wheels inside, and although this case was considered pilot error, the British side began to look at the technical condition. Several reports were sent to Fighter Command about the miserable condition the planes were in. A few days later a commission of inquiry came to Catterick and on 12 August the verdict was delivered. No 331 (N) Squadron was to receive factory new Mk.IIBs instead of the old MK.1 versions. The very next day, 9 new planes landed on the site, and the next day another 9 machines
There are no known photos of the 16 Mk.1 aircraft that No.331 (N) Squadron was initially allocated. It is therefore difficult to say anything about how they were painted and marked. Based on their age and condition, however, it is very likely that they were painted in dark earth/dark green with Sky underside as required by the regulations in 1940. However, it is unclear whether the department managed to paint the squadron’s identification code FN and the individual identification letter on the planes, or whether they still carried the markings from previous departments
The Hawker Hurricane was also deployed on Norwegian soil in 1940. A squadron of wing planes, No 46 squadron was intended for the Åndalsnes area, but this fell away when the fighting in southern Norway ended. Instead, the department was sent to northern Norway with the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious and landed in Skånland at Harstad and at Bardufoss. Here it was involved in battles with German planes, and several were shot down. When the fighting was over on 7 June 1940, the squadron was evacuated back to HMS Glorious, but the aircraft carrier and escort were sunk by the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Greisenau on their way back to the fleet base Scapa Flow in Shetland. Out of 1,500 men, only 41 were saved, including two of the pilots from No 46 squadron
PICTRUES
Spoiler
SOURCES
Spoiler
https://www.adlibris.com/no/bok/norske-militarfly-9788271286873?
https://www.norli.no/boker/dokumentar-og-fakta/historie-og-dokumentar/krig-og-historie/luftforsvarets-historie-fortalt-gjennom-75-gjenstander?
Redirecting...
Hurricane Mk.1 - Royal Air Force in WW2
- Yes
- No