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List of Hawker Hurricane operators

This is a list of the Hawker Hurricane operators.

Operators

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Argentina

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Argentine Air Force

Only one example of Hurricane Mk.IV, serial KW908, arrived in 1947 as a present from the British Government to the Argentines. The aeroplane was packed in 27 boxes and arrived to Buenos Aires on August '47 aboard the ship SS Durango. On 7 July of that year the aircraft was on public display in an exhibition mounted in one of the main squares of Buenos Aires, with other airplanes like a Lancaster and Fiat G55. In autumn of that year was sent to a flight school of the Argentinian Air Force located in Córdoba, where was painted the national insignia and repainted their camouflage colours; it is known that it remained there until the early '60s.

Australia

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Royal Australian Air Force

The following units served with the Desert Air Force in the Mediterranean Theatre:

Only one Hurricane (V7476) saw service in Australia.[2] It had been shipped, unassembled to No. 226 Group RAF in the Dutch East Indies during early 1942. It was among elements of 226 Grp evacuated to Australia before the Allied defeat in Java. After assembly by RAAF ground staff, this Hurricane served with the following units:

The Hurricane was retired in 1946 and is believed to have been scrapped.

Belgium

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Belgian Air Force

Belgium bought 20 Hurricane Mk.Is (early models with fabric covered wings and fixed two-blade propeller) in 1939 and a licence to build 80 more, of which only two were completed, with most of the aircraft being lost during the German invasion when they were bombed at the military airfield at Schaffen near Diest on 10 May 1940. After the war, six ex-RAF Hurricane Mk.IIs (a mix of Mk.IIB and C) were transferred to the Belgians in 1946, these were used as fast communications aircraft up to 1948.

Canada

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Several Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons were equipped with Hurricanes, including 1 Squadron RCAF, which flew in the Battle of Britain.

Royal Canadian Air Force

Czechoslovakia

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Czechoslovak Air Force in exile in Great Britain

Egypt

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Royal Egyptian Air Force

Finland

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A Finnish Hurricane from WWII in Helsinki

Finland bought 12 Mk.I Hurricanes at the end of the Winter War, but lost two during the transit flight. The aircraft did not have much success (only 5½ kills). When hostilities began again on 25 June 1941, their use was quite limited, partially because they were worn out due to the scarcity of replacement parts available during the Interim Peace (13 March 1940 – 25 June 1941) and subsequent combat flying. One Hurricane Mk.IIB was captured from the Soviets during the war and flown by the Finnish Air Force.

Finnish Air Force

Free France

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Hurricanes also joined the ranks of the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres (FAFL), the Free French Air Force, fighting in North Africa between June 1940 and May 1943. The Hurricanes, like all FAFL aircraft, sported the Cross of Lorraine on the fuselage, instead of the roundel in order to distinguish them from those aircraft flying for the Vichy French air force. These squadrons were generally formed within the RAF, so that Groupe de Chasse Alsace was known in British circles as the No. 341 Squadron RAF. French flying ace, James Denis, piloted one of such Hurricanes during the Allied campaigns in North Africa.

Free French Air Force
Free French Naval Air Service

Nazi Germany

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A Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 aircraft (RAF serial V7670) painted in Luftwaffe colours. This aircraft was captured by the Germans in March 1941 and then recaptured at Gambut Airfield in 1942.

The Luftwaffe operated some captured Hurricanes for training and education purposes.[3]

Luftwaffe

Kingdom of Greece

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Royal Hellenic Air Force

British India

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Hawker Hurricane Mk XII Indian Air Force.
Royal Indian Air Force

Iran

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Two-seat Hawker Hurricane Trainer no 2-31.

First Hurricane (P3270) was delivered from RAF unit. Next 10 aircraft were left by No. 74 Squadron RAF in May 1943 when unit was sent to Egypt. Last 18 Hurricane IIC were delivered in 1946, two of them were rebuilt as two-seat trainers.[4]

Imperial Iranian Air Force

Ireland

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The Irish Air Corps replaced its Gloster Gladiators with Hawker Hurricanes. During World War II, some Hurricanes which either landed accidentally or force-landed in neutral Ireland were immediately impounded and/or repaired by the authorities, while others were purchased direct from Britain. By the end of the war there were a total of 18 Hurricanes in service, which were gradually withdrawn after the Air Corps received a squadron's worth of Supermarine Seafires in 1947.

Irish Air Corps

Kingdom of Italy

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Regia Aeronautica

Two Hurricanes Mk.I, built by Zmaj Aircraft under license, were captured by the Italians when they took over Zemun airfield near Belgrade. Both were later test-flown at the Guidonia facility where more captured aircraft were hoarded.[5] One of them was prominently featured in Roberto Rossellini's period film Un Pilota Ritorna alongside a Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV. Two more fell into Italian hands during the war – one in North Africa[6] and one that touched down intact at Comiso airfield. Their serial numbers are not known.

Empire of Japan

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Japanese soldiers captured at least two Hurricanes in Singapore.[7]

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force

Netherlands

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Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force[9]

New Zealand

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New Zealand operated Hurricanes in 486 and 488 Squadrons. Following the fall of Singapore, 488 Squadron's Hurricanes were transferred to New Zealand home service, where some ended their days as airfield decoys. 486 Squadron was formed and operated as a nightfighter unit, operating in conjunction with a Turbinlite Flight, before re-equipping with the Typhoon and becoming a day fighter unit in September 1942.

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Norway

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Royal Norwegian Air Force

Two squadrons of Norwegian pilots in the RAF used Hurricane Mk.I and Mk.IIb defending the Scapa Flow naval base on the Orkneys in 1941. In summer 1942, both were transferred South to 11 group, trading in their Hurricanes for Spitfires. A single Hurricane flew in Norway after the war, used for evaluation only.

Poland

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First Hurricanes were bought by Poland in 1939 but were not delivered before 1 September 1939 and were sent to Turkey instead. Polish pilots flew Hurricanes in Polish squadrons formed in Great Britain in 1940 and No. 302 and No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadrons took part during Battle of Britain.[10]

Polish Air Forces in exile in Great Britain

Portugal

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Arma de Aeronautica

Kingdom of Romania

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In 1939 a Romanian military delegation went to United Kingdom to order 50 Hurricane Mk.Is, with 12 for urgent delivery[11] Only 12 were delivered before Romania sided with the Axis. The planes were assigned to the Escadrila 53 Vânătoare/ Fighter Squadron No 53 (transferred to the Air Dobrogea Command from 7th Fighter Group) and were used during the Operation Barbarossa to protect the Black Sea coast, including the vital Constanța harbour and the strategic Cernavodă railway bridge across the Danube.[12]

Some of the first Romanian aerial victories of the war (23 June 1941) were achieved by Lt Horia Agarici of Escadrila 53, who was flying a damaged Hawker Hurricane Mk.I. At 12 o'clock at the Mamaia airfield, the alarm was raised. Soviet bombers have been reported, which, apparently were heading for Constanța, to attack the harbour. Despite regulations, Horia Agarici took off without orders, without a wingman and with a single full tank of fuel, starting "the hunting". Good luck and his sense of guidance helped him. Soon a group of five Ilyushin DB-3 bombers appeared in front of his plane, flying at 600 meters altitude, with no fighter escort, attempting to bomb the Romanian fleet.[13] Taking advantage of a favorable position, Agarici attacked. First shooting the bomber head of the formation, the Soviet aircraft fell into the sea and exploded. After a diving turn and half a barrel roll, Agarici returned to attack, shooting the second plane from its right side. Then he attacked the third bomber, who is heading towards the ground, although he does not have a fire on board. Perhaps the crew chose imprisonment. The other two Soviet bombers disappeared during this time, abandoning the mission, and Horia Agarici returned to Mamaia airfield, at fuel limit.

In the early days of the war, the Romanian Hurricane pilots shot down eight aircraft without any losses. On 30 June, Esc. 53 Vân had a particularly successful day. During three air combats, Hurricane pilots claimed 10 Soviet "Grumman" fighters (most probably Polikarpov I-153s) over Ismail-Tulcea, near Danube, for no losses.[14]

Two Hurricane planes were lost by the end of 1941. Warrant officer Andrei Rădulescu managed to be the second ace in the entire campaign, having seven confirmed victories and four unconfirmed with his Hurricane. Other Hurricanes, belonging to the Royal Air Force of Yugoslavia were bought from Germany in 1941. Escadrila 53 Vânătoare gradually replaced Hurricanes with the Romanian IAR 80 model.

South Africa

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South African Air Force operated several squadrons of Hurricanes as part of the Desert Air Force, including 40 Squadron.[15]

South African Air Force

Soviet Union

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Hawker Hurricane inside the Vadim Zadorozhny Technical Museum

The Soviet Union received 2,952 aircraft of several variants[16] under Lend-Lease Act agreements. These aircraft served on all fronts.[17] One Hurricane Mk.IIB was captured from the Soviets during the war and flown by the Finnish Air Force.

Russian Wikipedia writes that the 894th Fighter Aviation Regiment was equipped with the Hawker Hurricane.

Soviet Air Forces
Soviet Air Defence Forces
Soviet Naval Aviation

Turkey

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Turkey bought Hurricanes in 1939.

Turkish Air Force

United Kingdom

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The last Hurricanes were withdrawn from RAF first-line service in February 1947, although two remain in service with the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Royal Air Force
Fleet Air Arm[18]

United States

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United States Army Air Force

Although not officially adopted as a USAAF aircraft, at least three examples were 'acquired' at various times, retaining their original RAF serials.

  • P3757 Hurricane Mk.I - this aircraft had an eventful history, being involved in a landing accident during the Battle of Britain, and subsequently struck off charge. Somehow passing on to the USAAF, probably as a liaison or 'hack' aircraft, it was involved in three more landing accidents, before a more substantial wheels-up emergency landing off-airport.[19][20]
  • BP654 Hurricane Mk.IIb (modified) - this aircraft was 'acquired' by the 350th FG, 12th AF (Italy), was converted to a 2 seater, and painted with a sharks mouth (and eyes!).[21]
  • LB640 Hurricane Mk.IIc (modified) - another example that was 'acquired' by the 350th FG, 12th AF (Italy), also converted to a 2 seater, used as a target-tug & liaison aircraft.[22]

Yugoslavia

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Main articles: Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia
 
Hawker Hurricane Mk IVRP with Yugoslav Air Force markings, Museum of Aviation in Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Zmaj factory built 20 Hurricanes under licence[15][23] along with 24 examples delivered from Britain. After the war 16 aircraft were used by the SFR Yugoslav Air Force.

Yugoslav Royal Air Force
Yugoslav Squadrons in the RAF
SFR Yugoslav Air Force

Other users

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Latvia

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Latvian Aviation Regiment (Latvian Air Force)

In 1939, Latvia ordered and paid for 30 British Hawker Hurricane fighters, but due to the start of World War II later that year, they were never delivered.[24]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Australian War Memorial, 2008, "450 Squadron RAAF" Retrieved on 6 February 2008.
  2. ^ Darren Crick, 2005, "RAAF A60 Hawker Hurricane" (adf-serials.com) Retrieved on 15 August 2008.
  3. ^ Ryś. Hawker Hurricane, p.158
  4. ^ a b Ryś. Hawker Hurricane, p.55
  5. ^ Garello, Giancarlo; Gueli Marco (2007). Ali straniere in Italia – N° 6 – War Prizes. Giorgio Apostolo Editore.
  6. ^ http://www.qattara.it/foto%20storiche_files/44567_Guerra%2040-43%20-%20Africa%20Settentrionale%20-%20Hurricane%20catturato.jpg [bare URL image file]
  7. ^ Ryś. Hawker Hurricane, p.171
  8. ^ Bridgwater & Scott 2001, p. 29.
  9. ^ Bridgwater & Scott 2001, p. 62,65.
  10. ^ Gretzyngier 2005
  11. ^ Bernád 2003, p. 8.
  12. ^ Bernád 2003, p. 12.
  13. ^ Neulen 2000, p. 96.
  14. ^ Bernád, Karlenko, Roba 2007, p. 40.
  15. ^ a b Franks 1999, p. 150.
  16. ^ Bader 2004, p. 135-137.
  17. ^ http://www.allaces.ru/ (Rus)
  18. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 240.
  19. ^ "Hurricane I P3757". rafcommands.com. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Aircraft P3757". americanairmuseum.com. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Aircraft BP654". americanairmuseum.com. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Aircraft LB640". americanairmuseum.com. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  23. ^ Ryś 2006, p. 54.
  24. ^ Ilmārs. "Latavio". lffb.lv (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 18 February 2014.

Bibliography

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hawker Hurricane.
  • Bernád, Dénes. Rumanian Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces 54). Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-535-X.
  • Bernád, Dénes. Dmitry Karlenko and Jean-Louis Roba, From Barbarossa to Odessa- The Luftwaffe and Axis Allies strike South-East: June–October 1941. Hinckley, LE, UK: Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1- 85780-273-3
  • Birtles, Philip. Hurricane Squadrons in Focus. Walton on Thames, Surrey, UK: Red Kite, 2003. ISBN 0-9538061-5-4.
  • Bridgwater, H.C. and Scott, Peter. Combat Colours Number 4; Pearl Harbor and Beyond, December 1941 to May 1942. Luton, Bedfordshire, UK: Guideline Publications, 2001. ISBN 0-9539040-6-7.
  • Franks, Richard A. The Hawker Hurricane, a Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller (Modellers Datafile 2). Bedford, UK: SAM Publications, 1999. ISBN 0-9533465-1-X.
  • Lopes, Mário Canongia. Spitfires e Hurricanes em Portugal (Bilingual Portuguese/English). Lisboa, Portugal: Dinalivro, 1993. ISBN 978-972-576-065-9.
  • Ryś, Marek. Hawker Hurricane. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, Herts, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2006. ISBN 978-83-89450-32-6.
  • Gretzyngier, Robert. Polskie Skrzydła 4 – Hawker Hurricane, część 1. Sandomierz, Poland: Stratus 2005. ISBN 83-89450-37-2. (Polish)
  • Wawrzyński, Mirosław. Hurricane w obcej służbie – Hurricane in Foreign Service. Warsaw, Poland: AJaKS-Książki Militarne, 2001. ISBN 83-914521-0-7. (Polish with English summary)
  • Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85177-849-6.
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