Small, Charles Walter Randolph (Sergeant)

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.

Sea Hurricane

While the Sea Hurricane never served in the Royal Canadian Navy, it was, ironically, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.  In late 1941, the RCAF found itself without any frontline fighters, having sent its earlier Hawker Hurricanes off to the UK along with 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, and was having a hard time procuring additional fighters to meet its needs.

For reasons that are still slightly unclear, the RCAF received 50 Sea Hurricanes in 1942.  It is assumed that these aircraft, built in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Canadian Car and Foundry, were to be used as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Merchant Ship Fighting Unit (MSFU) based in Canada, but were diverted to the RCAF.  These Sea Hurricanes were basically a Hurricane Mk. I with a tail-hook, catapult spools, a short blunt de Havilland spinner, and an eight gun wing. Wikipedia and Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Folding Wings

The idea of adding folding wings to the Sea Hurricane was examined in 1940 but ultimately abandoned due to concerns about the aircraft's ability to accommodate the extra weight and the urgent need for next-generation aircraft. The Sea Hurricane was primarily designed as a stopgap measure for naval operations, which limited the resources available for such modifications.

Examination of the Concept

• Weight Concerns: There were significant worries about the Sea Hurricane's ability to handle the additional weight that folding wings would introduce.
• Resource Limitations: The Sea Hurricane was intended as a stopgap solution for naval operations, which meant that resources for further modifications were limited.

The Sea Hurricane was adapted from the original Hurricane design to meet the needs of naval aviation. Key modifications included:

• Strengthened Airframe: To withstand the rigors of carrier operations.
• Arrestor Hook: Essential for landing on aircraft carriers.
• Naval Equipment: Ensured functionality in maritime conditions.

While the folding wing concept was explored, the pressing demands of the war and the need for more advanced aircraft led to its dismissal. The Sea Hurricane continued to serve effectively in its modified form without the folding wings.

Hurricane

Wikipedia Hurricane

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Hurricane - Kestrel Publications

Aircraft Images

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Hurricane 1375

Hurricane Mk. I / XIIA 1375

Diverted from RAF contract, was RAF Mk. I AG295. Delivered to stored reserve, issued on 30 April 1942. Served with No. 125 (F) Squadron on the East Coast, 1942/1943. Category B crash at RCAF Station Sydney, NS at 10:30 on 18 January 1943. Part of a two ship element, crashed on takeoff, Record Card states "error in judgment of pilot. No investigation required." To Canada Car & Foundry for repairs and conversion to Mk. XIIA 30 January to 12 July 1943. To No. 1 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec when completed. Cat "A" crash near St Joseph dAlma, QC while at No. 1 OTU on 1 Oct 1944. Following a dive bombing exercise, while returning to the station and performing unauthorized low-level flying, the student pilot flew into high tension wires and crashed into the Saguenay River. Flight Sergeant (RAF) G.W. Small (from Trinidad) was killed.

1942-02-11 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-January-18 Accident: 128 Squadron Loc: Sydney Aerodrome Names: Saunders
1943-October-06 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Aerodrome Names: Harding
1944-January-06 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: Aerodrome Names: Cummings
1944-October-01 Accident: 1 Operational Training Unit Loc: St Joseph D'alma Quebec Names: Small
1944-10-27 Struck off Strength Struck off, reduced to spares and produce 2019-08-20