List of Hawker Hurricane operators

This is a list of the Hawker Hurricane operators.

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Operators

 Argentina
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 remained there until the early '60s.

 Australia
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

Belgium bought 20 Hurricanes 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. Three aircraft transferred in 1946.

Belgian Air Force

 Canada

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
Czechoslovak Air Force in exile in Great Britain

 Egypt
Royal Egyptian Air Force

 Finland
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

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 No. 341 Squadron RAF

Free French Air Force
Free French Naval Air Service

 Germany
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

 Greece
Royal Hellenic Air Force

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

 Iran
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
  • Advanced Fighter Training Group, DoshanTeppeh[4]

 Ireland

The Irish Air Corps replaced their Gloster Gladiators with Hawker Hurricanes. 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. There were quickly replaced by Seafires. Irish Air Corps at Baldonnel.

Irish Air Corps

 Kingdom of Italy
Regia Aeronautica

Two Hurricanes Mk.I, built by Zmaj under license, were captured by the Italians when they took over Zemus 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.

 Japan

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

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
  • Tachikawa GiKen tested Hurricane IIB Trop (BE208).
  • 1 Chutai of the 64 Sentai tested Hurricane IIB Trop (BM900).[8]

 Netherlands

Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force[9]

 New Zealand

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
Royal Norwegian Air Force

Two squadrons of Norwegian pilots in the RAF used Hurricane MkI 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

First Hurricanes were bought by Poland in 1939 but were not delivered before 1 September 1939 and were sent to Turkey instead. Polish pilots could fly 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
Arma de Aeronautica
  • Esquadrilhas BA 2 (Ota)
  • Esquadrilhas BA 3 (Tancos)
  • Lisbon Defense Squadron (Lisboa)

 Romania

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]

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 1. 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 take off without order, without a wingman, 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 appears 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 attacks. First shooting the bomber head of the formation, the soviet aircraft falls into the sea and explodes. After a diving turn and half a barrel roll, Agarici returns to attack, shooting the second plane from its right side. Then he attacks 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 ten 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 7 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

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
Hawker Hurricane in Revda, Murmansk Oblast

The Soviet Union received 2,952 aircraft of several variants[16] due to 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.

Soviet Air Forces
  • 1 GvIAP
  • 20 GvIAP
  • 9 IAP
  • 27 IAP
  • 46 IAP
  • 145 IAP
  • 157 IAP
  • 180 IAP
  • 191 IAP
  • 197 IAP
  • 246 IAP
  • 287 IAP
  • 436 IAP
  • 438 IAP
  • 485 IAP
  • 609 IAP
  • 743 IAP
  • 814 IAP
  • 831 IAP
  • 832 IAP
  • 858 IAP
  • 760 SAP
  • 22 ZAP
  • 25 ZIAP
  • 27 ZIAP
Soviet Air Defence Forces
  • 26 GvIAP PVO
  • 83 GvIAP PVO
  • 67 IAP PVO
  • 429 IAP PVO
  • 439 IAP PVO
  • 441 IAP PVO
  • 488 IAP PVO
  • 730 IAP PVO
  • 736 IAP PVO
  • 767 IAP PVO
  • 768 IAP PVO
  • 769 IAP PVO
  • 833 IAP PVO
  • 926 IAP PVO
  • 933 IAP PVO
  • 934 IAP PVO
  • 964 IAP PVO
Soviet Naval Aviation
  • 2 GvIAP VVS VMF
  • 3 GvIAP VVS VMF
  • 27 IAP VVS VMF
  • 78 IAP VVS VMF

 Turkey

Turkey bought Hurricanes in 1939.

Turkish Air Force

 United Kingdom

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
  • No. 762 Squadron FAA
  • No. 768 Squadron FAA
  • No. 880 Squadron FAA
  • No. 885 Squadron FAA

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

Zmaj factory built 20 Hurricanes under licence[15][18] along with 24 examples delivered from Britain. After the war 16 aircraft were used by the SFR Yugoslav Air Force.

Yugoslav Royal Air Force
  • No. 51 Squadron, 2 Lovacki Puk VVKJ
  • No. 33 Squadron, 4 Lovacki Puk VVKJ
  • No. 34 Squadron, 4 Lovacki Puk VVKJ
Yugoslav Squadrons in the RAF
SFR Yugoslav Air Force

See also

References

Notes
  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. 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
  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. Franks 1999, p. 150.
  16. Bader 2004, p. 135-137.
  17. http://www.allaces.ru/ (Rus)
  18. Ryś 2006, p. 54.

Bibliography
  • 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)
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