Iranian Hawker Hurricanes

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Those Iranian Hawker Hurricanes.

Just how many did they have ?

I can find 34 serial numbers only there were said to have been some 10 or so ex 74 squadron aircraft left to them as well.

Any details on those ex 74 sqdn a/c ?

Also just how many tandem Hurricanes did they have I have seen photo's that seem to show more than just the one.

Alex

[Graham Boak]

Were these ex-74 Sq Hurricanes handed over during WW2? I wasn't aware that the IrAF survived as an independent organisation during the war.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Graham,

Yes 74 Squadron, is said to have left some 10 or so Hurricanes behind in 1943.

At least thats what I have read in some of the books I have.

Cannot find many Hurricane serials in the Air Britian series though for 74 Sqdn, only a few for the time frame.

The 34 or so serials that I have are all for 1946/48.

Am interested in the tandem Hurricanes they may have had.

All for now

Alex

[brewerjerry]

Hi Alex,
a link that might interest.
cheers
Jerry

http://www.iiaf.net/history/iiaf.html

[Amrit1]

I've just been reading "Tigers: The Story of No 74 Squadron" by Bob Cossey, and he does not mention any Hurricanes being left behind. However, he does list all the Hurricanes that 74 Sq received (if that is of any help):

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Many thanks, the number of Hurricanes is in the region of that earlier mentioned so might just fit.
But no other info , so no confirmation.
I will look the serials up.

All the best

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Well I have loked in the Air Britain RAF Serial books and have found the following.
Z4144 = no serial this number
BA131 = no serial number, up to BA118 then from BA133 were all Blenheims
BM624 = This is a Spitfire serial number
BM664 = Think this may have been an Oxford
DW932 =This was a Beaufort serial number
BN371 = This a/c was sold to Turkey Sept 43
Z4944 = Crash landed Shuztar, 24/3/43
Z4958 = 208 Sqn (from 74 ?) Force landed 5/7/42 could have been repaired then to 74.
BE226 = 134 Sqn SOC 31/3/45
BE336 = 213 Sqn SOC 4/10/45
BE698 = 74 Sqn Crashed Mehrabad 30/1/43
BG904 = 74 Sqn SOC1/9/43
BH283 = ME SOC 27/10/44
BM968 = 417/74/67
BP284 = 74/74otu, SOC/DBR accident 10/5/44
BP342 = 451/213 , Damaged by 109's C/L 1/9/42
BP664 = 74 Sqn 25m N of LG106 8/6/43
BP708 = 74 Sqn SOC 27/10/44
BW932 = 74 Sqn SOC 27/10/44
DG624 ex V6950 = ME SOC 31/3/45
HL564 = 208 Sqn SOC 13/9/45
HV660 = 74 Sqn SOC 29/3/45
HW294 = 241/3SAAF, in sea 40mWSW Benghazi 11/7/43

The new BA-BZ book may have greater details on those in that range than the older one.I note too that three (possibly four) were SOC on the same date.
Is it possible that BA119 to BA132 were Hurricanes ? Then again could it have been BE131, 33 Sqn then 335 Sqn SOC 27/10/44 ?

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Just a reminder that I am still searching for details of Iranian Hawker Hurricane's.

I found the following in "The Aeroplane Spotter" for 30th November 1946, page 287 along with a photo.

"Four two seat Hurricanes have been supplied to the Iranian Air Force".

The words "Four" and "Have been supplied" infer that more than one Two seater was converted apart from those converted in the USSR.


As Air Britain has the sole known Two seater as being sold to Iran on the 3.12.48 while the other 30+Hurricanes all have dates around 1946 then were there more sold to Iran in 1948 ?

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Just a little more on the subject of tandem Hurricanes to Iran.
Air Enthusiast number 90.

"Iranian Eagles" by Lennart Andersson.
"New equipment arrived in 1946-1947 in the form of a large number of Hurricane IIC's, including a pair of two-seat trainers".

The author thanked the following for help in the preparation of the article = John Havers,Roger Jackson, Lennart Johnsson, Ray Sturtivant.

Alex