Hurricane II BE559, captured in Finland in 1943

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Looking for more information about Hurricane II BE559?

Suitable for final recovery captured by the Finns was the Mark II Hurricane, BE559. Aircraft performed reconnaissance flight and the pilot had to force landed in the area Pälkäjärvi on 8 March 1943. Lieutenant Nikolai A. Sinicyn was from the squadron 2./760 IAP (from 259. IAD belonging to 7. AA). He was taken prisoner by the Finnish border troops. The plane was rearmed in Soviet Union. Its weapons come into the two 20 millimeter cannon SzWAK and two 12.7 millimeter machine guns UBT. Plane served from January 1942, at 760 IAP. That is the last of this type of aircraft in this unit. He was downloaded by the Finns, and came to the VL in Tampere 23 March 1943.

Regards,

Mirek Wawrzyński

[Harri Pihl]

According to Janarmo the BE559 was stored in the Lentovarikko from March 1943 along with couple other Hurricane IIs captured earlier. The engine mounting and the tail wheel assembly were missing.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi thanks for this info.
These copules were probably Z3577, BM959 and Z5049 and possible next was Z2585. First three were captured on 6 IV 1942 and the fourth one on 16 II 1942.
Only one was make airworthy, the last one.
So, the missing parts could be used for this restored one?

Regards,
Mirek W

[Martti Kujansuu]

This is a copy of the text I posted on the Axis History Forum.

The plane crashed on a swamp seven kilometers west from units of Rajajääkäripataljoona 6 (Rj.P 6) and about six kilometers south from "Lake Luka" (Lukajärvi).

According to the recovery report of Kenttälentovarikko 3 (KLeLv 3) the plane run out of fuel. The only hostile planes reported to 14. Divisioonan Esikunta / Ilmatorjuntatoimisto (14.DE. It.tsto) on that day were 02.16-02.46 AM a single plane from east to Pälkjärvi-Repola-Koli-Suomi and 5.11-5.20 PM a Hurricane from Evijärvi-Pälkjärvi to east. The HC dropped three bombs at the front from altitude of c. 500 meters.

Things recovered from the site:

1 fuselage
1 set of wings
1 horizontal and vertical stabilizer
1 set of landing gear
1 tailwheel

1 engine "Rolss-Royce" (intact)
1 fuel tank
2 fuel tanks (attached to the fuselage)
2 20 mm cannons
2 12,7mm machine guns

160 20 mm ammunition
109 12,7mm ammunitions
4 ammunition boxes
1 radio (battery and rechargeable battery), "AM".
1 parachute

1 optical sight for MG, "A-M"
1 oxygen mask
1 turn indicator
1 artificial horizon
1 artificial compass

1 tachometer
1 oil temperature indicator
1 oil pressure indicator
1 variometer
1 airspeed indicator

1 fuel indicator
1 fuel pressure indicator
1 altimeter
1 oxygen adjustment and flow indicator
1 brake pressure indicator

1 volt meter
1 cylinder temperature indicator
1 radiator (attached to the fuselage)

Pieces of sheet, pipes, bolts, nuts, cables etc. loose things, such as oil tank, "lamelleja/lomelleja" and so on. The propeller was broken in landing progress, made out of wood. Compass and clock were taken off by the pilot when leaving the plane and were with him when he was send to the division for interrogation.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Thanks again, :-)
MirekW

[Martti Kujansuu]

Here are some quotes from his interrogation report made on 9th March 1943.
Finnish National Archive Sörnäinen, T5973/9
Name: Sinizin, Nikolai Aleksandrovitsh.
Born: on 10th August 1919 Obl. Moskovkaja, Rajan. Vinogradanskij, at the village of Zalatova
Rank: Lieutenant
Unit: 760th Fighter Regiment, 2nd Fighter Squadron.
Nationality: Russian
Civil occupation: Flight instructor
School: Four grades of middle school and three grades of night school.
Captured: on 8th March 1943 on 11,30 PM at Pälkäjärvi. He made a successful crash landing north of Lake Evzsh.
Captured by: 4580. (E/Ej.P 6)
interrogator's verdict: The prisoner tells willingly any information he knows without avoiding questions. Seems to be quite civilized/learned.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi
thanks for this report too, :-)
mw