Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc.
Source BBMF

The Hawker Hurricane is a single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s"“1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hurricane developed through several versions, as bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft in addition to fighters. Versions designed for the Navy were popularly known as the Sea Hurricane, with modifications enabling their operation from ships. Some were converted to be used as catapult-launched convoy escorts. By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain and Canada.

A major manufacturer of the Hurricane was Canadian Car and Foundry at their factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. The facility's chief engineer, Elsie MacGill, became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes". The initiative was commercially led rather than governmentally, but was endorsed by the British government; Hawker, having recognized that a major conflict was all but inevitable after the Munich Crisis of 1938, drew up preliminary plans to expand Hurricane production via a new factory in Canada. Under this plan, samples, pattern aircraft, and a complete set of design documents stored on microfilm, were shipped to Canada; the RCAF ordered 20 Hurricanes to equip one fighter squadron and two more were supplied to Canadian Car and Foundry as pattern aircraft but one probably did not arrive. The first Hurricane built at Canadian Car and Foundry was officially produced in February 1940. As a result, Canadian-built Hurricanes were shipped to Britain to participate in events such as the Battle of Britain. Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) was responsible for the production of 1,451 Hurricanes. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Hurricane

Wikipedia Hurricane

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Hurricane - Kestrel Publications

Hurricane Mk. IIB BD956

3 (NF) Sqn Tertius Primus Erit (x)

History of the Squadron during World War II (Aircraft: Hurricane I, IIb, IIc, Typhoon Ib, Tempest V)

No. 3 Squadron is the oldest squadron in the RAF, Having been formed on 13th May 1912. It served through out World War I. It served in fighter and ground attack roles. Between the wars, it was disbanded and reformed a number of times, flying a number of different types of aircraft. Before the start of the Second World War No 3 Squadron was posted as part of Fighter Command to RAF Station Biggin Hill and equipped with the Hawker Hurricane Mk I. On the outbreak of war, it moved to Croydon, then to Hawkinge and Kenley. It was not in action until May, 1940, when it was briefly deployed to Merville, France as part of 63 Wing in support of the British Expeditionary Force following the German attack on the West. It was forced to withdraw after 10 days, having claimed 60 German aircraft for the loss of 21 of its own. Once back up to strength, No. 3 Squadron was used from May 1940 to April 1941 as air defence for the Royal Naval base at Scapa Flow and convoy protection, operating from Wick, Castletown and Skeabrae, remaining in Scotland until April 1941, when it moved south to RAF Martlesham Heath.

The squadron was involved in night-fighting, where it co-operated with "Turbinlite" searchlight equipped Douglas Havocs (the searchlight in the Havoc was intended to illuminate enemy aircraft so that the Hurricanes could attack them), but with no success. The Hurricane was not well equipped for night fighting. In June 1941 it moved to RAF Stapleford Tawney operating four-cannon Hurricane IIs in 'Rhubarb' attacks on defended ground targets and shipping in northern France and Belgium, flying from Stapleford Tawney and Hunsdon. It participated in the Dieppe raid, among other activities. In February 1943 it re-equipped with the Hawker Typhoon Ib for fighter-bomber and anti-shipping strikes, flying from a number of bases in SE England. It re-equipped in March 1944 with the new Hawker Tempest fighter, operating over the Normandy beach-head and against German V1 flying bombs, claiming 288 V-1s shot down.

It then deployed across the Channel, flying as part of the 2 TAF fighting through the low countries and into Germany. Amongst its pilots was F/L Pierre Clostermann, who flew with 3 Squadron from March 1945 until the end of the war in Europe

Maps for Movements of No. 3 Squadron RAF 1940-45

MAP 1: No 3 Squadron bases, Scotland May 1940-April 1941 (right-click on image to display enlarged view in new tab)

MAP 2: No. 3 Squadron bases, SE England April 1941-September 1944

MAP 3: No. 3 Squadron bases in Europe September 1944-May 1945