Hurricane guns

[Artist]

Hi, can anyone here tell me about the patches that cover the gun ports on Hurricane MkI wings. Was it a doped on fabric or a red tape.Photos I have in books make me think it was red tape. After combat photos of Hurricanes make it appear that the tape was completly blown off. I would think doped cloth would leave traces of the doping. thank you for anyone that can help me. Bob

[Jon]

Bob,

Just pulled a load of books down to have a look, the description of the patches looks to be fabric and doped onto the gun ports.
Every picture i looked at of Hurricanes landed soon after combat had the fabric blasted clean off, showing the 8 large blast tubes. No hint of the fabric could be seen.

Hope this helps?

[timothy]

Like this??



= Tim

[Graham Boak]

Apparently tape was provided early in the war, but doped fabric was also used and (I understand) superseded its use. After all, in a war economy why make something special when something readily available will do the job?

[Jon]

I think the picture from Tim says it all, obviously the fabric does stay about after firing.
This will be picked off I suppose to allow a fresh layer to be doped on?

[Andy Saunders]

Splendid photo, Tim. Not seen it before. Is that you on the left?? Andy

[markjsheppard]

Andy

Tim on the left, 134 Sqn intelligence officer F/O W L 'The Spy' Blackbourn on the right. Taken most likely by after the combat of 6th October 1941 when Tim claimed 1/2 a Ju88 of KG30 destroyed.

The photo was taken by F/Lt Bert Daventry AM photographer. The 130 photos he took are in the IWM in London.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Andy and Tim.

regards

Mark

[Artist]

Thank you guys. Great photo Tim! Looks like the paint of the aircraft was pulled off to. I wiil use this photo as my reference for the painting. Bob

[Franek Grabowski]

Shorty Keough was 4'10''! Anyway, I think it says a lot about shortage of the RAF pilots!

[timothy]

I accede!!