111 Sqn RAF at 1938 Paris Air Show - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Smithy · #1 15th July 2007, 22:25

Hello all,

Does anyone have any photos of 111 Squadron's Hurricanes when they attended the 1938 Paris Air Show?

Cheers,

Tim.

Amrit1 · #2 16th July 2007, 02:05

Smithy · #3 16th July 2007, 09:09

Thanks Amrit, once again you've been a great help!

However I was under the impression that 111's Hurris had their squadron number painted on the fuselage sides (with the upper half of the numbers in flight colours) at the time of the '38 Paris show. I have a profile by Jon Freeman of one such but am after photos of the scheme. Anyone?

Cheers,

Tim.

PS - Yes Amrit, I have seen the mini-series and actually have it on tape. I agree the series is not as good as the book but there's some wonderful flying sequences, especially the under the bridge bit by Ray Hanna.

EDIT: Oops, no wonder I'm having trouble finding images, 111 were at the Villacoublay Air Show not Paris. My mistake!

Amrit1 · #4 16th July 2007, 13:21

This from Flight Magazine (no pictures so hope someone else can help):

Quote:

The Visit to France
ELEVEN Hawker Hurricane eight-gun fighters of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron, and four Gloster Gladiators of No. 87 (Fighter) Squadron, attended by a Vickers Valentia bomber transport and two Avro Ansons, left Northolt last Friday for Villacoublay, near Paris, where nine Hurricanes and three Gladiators gave demonstrations. Wing Cdr. S. L. G. Pope, D.F.C., was Officer-in-Charge and Air Comdre. R. E. Saul, D.F.C., accompanied the party. Poor weather prevented a record-breaking trip by the Hurricanes, but they reached Paris in 66 minutes. Presumably they were forced to throttle back to allow the escorting Amiot bombers and Dewoitine fighters, which went out to meet them, to keep formation. The Hurricanes' show was very well received. The programme was: Take-off by flights; squadron formation; line abreast; medium
turn; break up; landing by flights. The Gladiators put up their usual impeccable display which took the following form: Rocket loop; half roll off top; stall turn; half upward roll and loop;, slow roll; three loops', upward roll; half upward roll; loop and slow roll; half roll off loop. The necessary ground staff and spare equipment went over in the Valentia and the Ansons. During the stay the officers were to have attended an official dinner in Paris. ..New French machines taking part included the Potez 63 (see photograph on page 38) and the Amiot bomber, similar to the machine in which Rossi lately broke a series of world's records. On Sunday Group Capt. Orlebar flew from Northolt to Villacoublay (235 miles) in 55 minutes in a Hurricane.

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%202008.pdf

Smithy · #5 17th July 2007, 16:09

Thanks Amrit, every little bit helps.

I have some old Movietone footage of the 111 flypast but unfortunately no photos.

As you say hopefully someone here will be able to fill the gaps!

Graham Boak · #6 24th July 2007, 19:16

There are several photos of 111 Sq aircraft at the time of this trip, with the squadron numbers you describe. They can be found scattered through several reference books of the Hurricane, including the Mk.1 Profile and Mason's classic works.

There are, however, several different versions of what the colours could be, and at least three different versions are visible in the photos: one reportedly being the squadron commander's.

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