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Old 30th April 2005, 10:28
Mirek Wawrzynski Mirek Wawrzynski is offline
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Re: No British PR Hurricanes were sent to Soviet Union?

Hi
Kari
In my opinion from Great Britain there were sent none Hurricane P.R. It was pointless to did it in this perion (since end of 1941).
From Great Britain had made such a missons over Europe territory since IX 1939 specialy modifed version of Spitfires (from specialy adopted Mark I and later upgarded new version). They had much more better flying characteristic then Hurricane (were faster, longer ranage, celling, ect.). So in Britain Hurricanes were not modifed to P.R. version.

In North Africa there were made such a modification an there were er used used in such role British Hurricanes P.R. (one was even captured by Germans from 208. Squadron RAF Army Co-operation (Mark I P.R. T9536 made in Canada).

In Soviet Union were made several modifiacation of fighter version of Hurricanes II (A, B, C) among about 3.000 send there. One such modifiaction was P.R. version which was done on the begining of 1942. 5 such a planes were in 118. ORAP Northen Fleet, at least one was in 3. GIAP Baltic Fleet. Soviet P.R. version flown over Leningrad, Voronezki, North-Western, Murmansk area, Karelian Fronts. These planes had got camera Soviet origin - AFA-I, placed behind the pilot.

I have written also about this in my book "Hurricane in Foreign Service. Belgian Finland, Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, Rumania and Soviet Union users during WW II", printed in Poland in 2001.
BTW I have not get any photos of Soviet Hurricane II P.R. version.

Regards,
Mirek Wawrzyński
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