Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Hello all

Happy New Year! I’m sure it’s been said ad nauseam, but let’s hope 2021 brings much better times.
I’m trying to find out about the history of Hawker Hurricane V6742 and was wondering if any Hurri experts might be able to help. I know the aircraft crashed on the 30th April 1941, whilst at 52 OTU. However I’m interested to know it’s earlier history and specifically the Battle of Britain period. I’ve come across a reference to V6742 force landing on 5th October 1940 whilst with 607 Sqn, but I’ve also seen a different serial number quoted (P3554) and that the Pilot baled (P/O David Evans)? Any help or clarification would be much appreciated.

many thanks

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

My reference to 607 Sq 5/10/40 has FBO2 (I don't know offhand what that means) and that it then went to 302 Sq. I suspect the source is Air Britain serial volume for Vxxxx.

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

For P3554 I have the same date, crashlanded at Aldingbourne after being damaged by Bf109s near Swanage.

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Thank you Revi16 and Graham
Interesting to hear about the 302 Squadron connection, I’m not sure what FB02 means either?

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Hello,

Re: FB02

FAO2 (Flying Accident Operations 2) Aircraft damaged in flying accident during operations and requiring contractor's attention (The latter shown by the suffix '2').

FBO2 (Flying Battle Operations 2) As above (FAO2) but aircraft suffering battle damage.

Aircraft For The Few The RAF's Fighters and Bombers of 1940.
Bowyer,Michael J. F.
Sparkford:Patrick Stephens Ltd.,1991.
pp.7 & 65.

Col.

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Thank you Col Bruggy
Much appreciated.

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

The scale ran from 1 to 3 to describe the amount of damage. The most common options are

FA - Flying Accident Damage
FB - Flying Battle Damage
EA - Enemy Action - e.g bombed on ground

O - Operations
T - Training

1 - roughly equivalent to Cat A (Also Cat Ac?)
2 - roughly equivalent to Cat B
3 - roughly equivalent to Cat E

e.g. FA T(2)

The system moved to Cat A to E at the end of 1940, but Cat E instead of FB O(3) started to appear on the Form 78 earlier than that

Martin

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

The 607 Sqn ORB for Oct40 says 4 Hurricanes made forced landings as a result of the second sortie of the say (1320-1415)
No personnel losses, one Hurricane Cat 2 and three Cat 3
P/O Evans is listed as one of the 10 pilots, although it does not name which four force-landed. Neither does it list any codes or serials sadly.

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

I have six aircraft leaving the squadron on that day including V6742
False information - I was cross-reading columns.

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Thanks everyone
Much appreciated

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Graham,
According to TNA:
V6686 was lost on 1Oct40: http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ls/r/C16687673
V6688 was lost on 15Sep40: http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ls/r/C16472487
V6689 was lost on 17Sep40: http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ls/r/C16472500
Andy

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

You are quite right - I was cross-reading columns and dates and it all seemed to fit beautifully! (Actually, nowhere near.) My apologies and thanks.

It could be added that a forced landing is not the same as a crash landing, and the aircraft could have been readily repaired on the unit.

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Hi Harri109

below what I found in my files about V6742

05.09.1940 awaiting collection after build with engine Merlin III
15.09.1940 Taken by 15 MU RAF Maintenance Unit at Wroughton
19.09.1940 Taken on Charge by 607 Squadron (County of Durham) Royal Auxiliary Air Force
05.10.1940 Pilot Officer David Evans (42491) of 607 Squadron (County of Durham) Royal Auxiliary Air Force took off from Tangmere,West Sussex forced-landed at Broom Farm, Fareham, damaged in combat with Bf109s of I./JG2 over Swanage 14:00. Pilot believed unhurt. Aircraft damaged but repairable.
12.10.1940 Taken by 1 CRU (Civilian Repair Unit)
29.11.1940 Taken by 51 MU RAF Maintenance Unit
02.02.1941 Taken by 5 MU RAF Maintenance Unit
17.02.1941 Taken on Charge by 302 Squadron (Polish) (City of Poznan) PAF - coded: WX-F
19.03.1941 Taken on Charge by 52 OTU Operational Training Unit RAF
30.04.1941 Sergeant Michael Henry Haggard Davigdor (RAFVR 1250642) of 52 OTU Operational Training Unit RAF took off from Debden and crashed west of Spains Hall, Finchingfield M1353 at 16:12 after high speed dive into ground, completely burnt out, pilot killed, cause of accident presumed due to lack of oxygen (His birth index seems to carry a surname spelling of D′Avigdor) . The aircraft was write-off this day

12.05.1941 Struck off Charge

regards,
Mariusz

Re: Hurricane V6742 enquiry
 

Thank you Mariusz
That’s really interesting and much appreciated.