General theme for Hawker Hurricane during Phoney War and BoF

[bearoutwest]

Hello Graham,

I don't claim any great knowledge on the subject, and have to rely on the accuracy of caption writers. So I try and find sources which have a higher level of reliability. Have a look at the following linked photos and tell me what you think. If you can shed further light on their accuracy, that would be a good thing.

These photos are from the Imperial War Museum collection/photo area. I used a search for: Hawker Hurricanes France 1940.

87 Sqn, arrowhead marking, full rudder tricolour:
HU112434, " Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 87 Squadron at Lille-Seclin, France 1940."
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205259684

87 Sqn, no arrowhead, no fin-flash or rudder stripes
HU112449, "Hawker Hurricane Mk I L2047 'LK-H' of No. 87 Squadron nosed over after a landing accident at Lille-Seclin, France 1940."
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205259683

87 Sqn, arrowhead marking, no rudder stripes
HU112435, "Hawker Hurricane Mk I 'LK-Q' of No. 87 Squadron after a crash-landing, France 1940."
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205259687

73 Sqn, full rudder tricolour, single aircraft letter on tail side of roundel
C1241, "Two Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No. 73 Squadron RAF coming in to land at Rouvres. The nearest 'S', is being flown by Pilot Officer P V Ayerst."
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205064961

I think these are the 85 Sqn photos you referred to before, with narrow (smaller fin flash) and hexagon:
C1519, "Ground crew and armourers refill ammunition belts with .303 bullets by Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF at Lille-Seclin."
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207588
C1518
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207586

1 Sqn, full rudder tricolour, single aircraft letter on tail side of roundel
C1234, "Hawker Hurricane Mark I, N2358 'Z', of No. 1 Squadron RAF is refuelled while undergoing an engine check at Vassincourt."
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205207569

That first link, is the only photo I have seen recently, of an 85 or 87 Sqn with full rudder stripes. (Mind you, I haven't also been searching recently.... but I have not seen that published elsewhere before.)

Your thoughts?

...geoff

Additional photo, captioned as 615 Sqn Hurricane suffering bomb blast damage at Kenley 18-August-1940. (Found during general internet search, so accuracy of caption unverified.)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Warplanesnu...uadron_hawker/