350 Fighter Group Hurricanes

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Anyone know of any serial numbers for the Hurricanes that were used by the USAAF 35oth Fighter Group ?

Two are known, but the third still needed.

It would seem that each Squadron had at least one Hurricane a/c for TT duties.

The 346th Sqdn had LB640 and made it into a 2 seater.
The 345th Sqdn had KX857 and also made it into a 2 seater.
The 347th Sqdn also had one but which a/c was it ?

Thanks
Alex

[Martin Gleeson]

Hi Alex,

Firstly there was an article in AEROPLANE MONTHLY, June 2001, pages 99-103 covering a Hurricane restoration/conversion in the UK. It was to be painted to represent LB640. IIRC not all of the article concerned their use by the 350th FG, but there was some information. I do not have that issue to hand unfortunately. Maybe tomorrow ?

At least 4 Hurricanes were used by the 350th FG according to Hugh D. Dow, a former pilot of the 346th FS. He related that when LB640 became worn out they (the 346th FS) exchanged it for a new single-seater at an RAF depot. Don't know if this second example was converted to a two-seater. The Hurricanes were also used for many types of 'hack' duties. Hugh Dow was not certain if the 347th FS modified their example into a two-seater.

A quick check of the Air-Britain Serial Registers JA to PZ reveals 4 Hurricanes transferred to the USAAF in the MTO. They were;

LB560 'To USAAF 31.10.43'
LB595 ' " 12.11.43'
LB597 ' " 31.10.43'
LB640 ' " 29. 2.44'

Plus KX857 - No reference to USAAF service.

Hope this helps,

Martin Gleeson.

[Leendert]

Aeroplane Monthly article is online here: http://www.hawker-restorations-ltd.c...rticles/8.html

Regards,

Leendert

[rpeck350]

My friend Keith has a web page(blog) on the 350 FG and has some photo's of these Hurricanes.Hope this helps.
http://homepage.mac.com/vizcarraguit...ft/index7.html
Go though all pages for couple more.His dad flew in the 345 FS and is still a live.
Rick

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Thank you Leendert and Martin for you input on these odd Hurricanes.

More and more info bit by bit seems to come out over time about two seat Hurricane's, just maybe one or two of these made their way post WW2 to Iran to join the other two, or was it one (?).

Thank again
Alex

[BlackWolf3945]

Originally Posted by rpeck350

My friend Keith has a web page(blog) on the 350 FG and has some photo's of these Hurricanes.Hope this helps.
http://homepage.mac.com/vizcarraguit...ft/index7.html
Go though all pages for couple more.His dad flew in the 345 FS and is still a live.
Rick

Hiya Rick,

Would you have an email address for Keith? I'd like to inquire about a number of the photos he's got on those pages...

Thanks!


Fade to Black...

[rpeck350]

Originally Posted by BlackWolf3945

Hiya Rick,

Would you have an email address for Keith? I'd like to inquire about a number of the photos he's got on those pages...

Thanks!


Fade to Black...

PM sent Blackwolf

[Devilhawk]

Strangely, I was just reading some microfilm I have and came across this entry. The film is very difficult to read but I believe it says this1944 Alghero Fertilla Airfield)

"On 23 January , the 346th received another Hurricane to be converted into a two searer and used primarily for transportation purposes."

I know this is not particularly fascinating, But for me, It is always a pleasure to have such a specific date attached to the arrival of a particular airplane. I can not say for certain today if "another" refers to the 346th receiving its second Hurricane after wearing out the first or, since this is a 350th HQ Diary, This entry refers to the 350th FG receiving another and assigning this one to the 346th. I will talk with Hugh Dow and see if he can help with the date.

I will see if I can gather any more specifics on the Hurricanes of the 350th FG. The photo I have of the two seater on my blog is indeed KX857. The serial number is very visible when I zoom in on the photo. I had written this a couple of years ago in my notes to myself.

The photo of the Hurricane itself is Hurricane IIc Serial Number KX857.
Air Britains RAF Aircraft KA100-KZ999 gives KX857 as one of a batch of 1455 Hurricane IIB, IIC, IID, and IVs delivered from Hawkers Kingston and Langley factorys between 11/1942 and 5/1943, noting that it went to the Middle East and that there was No Further Trace.
That "no further trace' no doubt being it's movement to 345th where it is converted to a two seater.

I do not recall who I am quoting in this note. There are two photos of this a/c in my 345th collection. The closeup of the two seats shows pilot Earl "Dutch" Miller in the front seat. I have yet to Identify the back seat rider.
My father had a ride or two in this a/c after being picked up from his crashed P-39. He downed three of them in Feb/44.
That's all for now.
Keith

[Devilhawk]

I have posted the images of the Hurricanes that I have in the 350th photo collection on a page of its own on the 350th FG Blog. Hugh Dow has added some new comments to them as well. I look forward to other information others may have.
Keith

http://web.mac.com/vizcarraguitars/350th_Fighter_Group_Blog/350th_FG_Blog/350th_FG_Blog.html

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Many thanks for replies.

tried the link it did not work for me.

Alex