Hurricane guns
 

Hi, can anyone here tell me about the patches that cover the gun ports on Hurricane MkI wings. Was it a doped on fabric or a red tape.Photos I have in books make me think it was red tape. After combat photos of Hurricanes make it appear that the tape was completly blown off. I would think doped cloth would leave traces of the doping. thank you for anyone that can help me. Bob

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Bob,

Just pulled a load of books down to have a look, the description of the patches looks to be fabric and doped onto the gun ports.
Every picture i looked at of Hurricanes landed soon after combat had the fabric blasted clean off, showing the 8 large blast tubes. No hint of the fabric could be seen.

Hope this helps?

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Like this??

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2/rexSmall.jpg

= Tim

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Apparently tape was provided early in the war, but doped fabric was also used and (I understand) superseded its use. After all, in a war economy why make something special when something readily available will do the job?

Re: Hurricane guns
 

I think the picture from Tim says it all, obviously the fabric does stay about after firing.
This will be picked off I suppose to allow a fresh layer to be doped on?

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Splendid photo, Tim. Not seen it before. Is that you on the left?? Andy

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Andy

Tim on the left, 134 Sqn intelligence officer F/O W L 'The Spy' Blackbourn on the right. Taken most likely by after the combat of 6th October 1941 when Tim claimed 1/2 a Ju88 of KG30 destroyed.

The photo was taken by F/Lt Bert Daventry AM photographer. The 130 photos he took are in the IWM in London.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Andy and Tim.

regards

Mark

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Thank you guys. Great photo Tim! Looks like the paint of the aircraft was pulled off to. I wiil use this photo as my reference for the painting. Bob

Re: Hurricane guns
 

One more quick question .Do you think the fabric was red doped on with clear or the fabric was another color doped on with red dope. Bob

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Fabric? Certainly used in Aug '40. Dope, Artist? Pass.

Me on the left? Flatterer!! NO - Rex Furneaux - now living in France. See the difference here - he's on the right - I'm taller!! - Neil (Lord Cameron) & Jackie Ross are the others. Neil? You can see the future MRAF there??

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...F2/howtall.jpg

And a VV successful New Year to ALL!!

= Tim

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Tim, Sorry but I do not seem to understand your reply. Bob

Re: Hurricane guns
 

What I meant, Bob, was that I cannot answer your question.

= Tim

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Hello,

A Czech P/O Fajtl (later W/C) who flew with P/O Jack K. Ross with No.17 Sqn often recalled him, and described him as smallest RAF pilot. Was it a real ?

Happy New Year,
Michal

Re: Hurricane guns
 

I would bet on it!! 5'2".
= Tim

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Shorty Keough was 4'10''! Anyway, I think it says a lot about shortage of the RAF pilots!

Re: Hurricane guns
 

I accede!!

Re: Hurricane guns
 

I know that while they were at RAF Leconfield waiting to be dispatched to Russia there was a good knees up in the officers mess and he ended up being lifted onto the fireplace mantelpiece. It was also quite a riot - unruly if it was in the Sgt Mess but jovial fun if it was the Officers one! The occasion was a riot with either Czech or Polish pilots who were also based there in Aug 1941.

At the other extreme was F/Lt Micky Rook who was 6' 6" of 81 Sqn in Russia. I have a photo of Micky and Ross plus the other two Flight Commanders in Russia and the 14" difference was funny to see. Supposedly, when he went on to fly Spitfires from Hurricanes had had to fly in slippers as we could not fly in shoes/boots?!

regards

Mark

Hurricane guns
 

found the photo. Sorry only three in the photo not four.

Vic Berg is the other 134 Sqn flight commander and was not short either.

The difference between Ross and Micky seems to be more than a foot!

regards

Mark

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Hi,
I know I'm a bit late to join in with this thread but I have an original patch that was taken by a Battle of Britain veteran from an armourer before it was stuck over the gun ports of a 41 Squadron Spitfire in 1940, so totally original but unused.
I will happily scan it and send it to you if you think it may help with your enquiry.
All the best
Gerry

Re: Hurricane guns
 

I forgot that I have these items framed but have taken pictures, if the image isn't good enough let me know and I will try and remove them and scan them directly. The patches are already coated on the inside with some sort of adhesive, the outside is an orangey brown colour.
Gerry

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Thank you so much Gerry! I can now see the patches were made before application. This means alot for my painting. I have gotten so many different answers for my question from people. Many have said the patches were canvas then doped on with a reddish dope. You have shown me otherwise. I do thank you! You are very lucky to own this piece of history. Bob

Re: Hurricane guns
 

Quote from elsewhere -

"Gun ports, and flare ports ( especially on shacks) were pieces of Irish linen, and were `doped ' on, i should know, one of the dirtiest jobs for a rigger on Shacks,, all sticky and gungy,, yuk."

= Tim

Re: Hurricane guns
 

My understanding is that the pre-prepared patches were used in the early fighting, but superseded by doped linen later. It is not a simple case of one but not the other.