Crash Landed Hurricane on Beach

[kaki3152]

Can anyone identify the Hurricane I in this picture? I sort of make out the serial number to be V7831. To my amateur eye, it looks like Crete.

[SteveB]

It's a longshot but it could perhaps be V7837 which served with 73Sqn and is recorded by Air Britain as "shot down by Bf109s near Bu Amud 23/4/41". At this time 73Sqn was involved in the defence of Tobruk and there was a Landing Ground number 147 at Bu Amud near the coast just to East of Tobruk. You may know that 73Sqn a/c often had very distinctive markings in the shape of a blue and yellow "flash" that extended fore and aft of the fuselage roundel. If you look hard enough it is possible to convince yourself that the cut out in the fabric on the Hurricane is exactly the same shape as the "flash" that 73Sqn used?

Steve

[Brian]

Hi Kaki

If it is V7831, I have a note that it served with 274 Squadron while Air-Britain shows it lost on 14/6/41 (although I have no corresponding loss)

Cheers
Brian

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
No mention of V7831 in the list in Don Minterne's book part 2.
And the note for V7837 reads -
V 7837
73
Ju 87 dest. 22-4-41, P/O Wareham.
Ju 87, Bf 109 dest 23-4-41, S/L W-B.
W/o 14/4/41, S/L W-Barnes b/o 14/4/41.

W-B = Wykeham-Barnes.
I also think that the 14/4/41 should read as 23/4/41, because
Minterne goes on to say-
page 91.
23 The final battle over Tobrik cost the RAF dearly. Seven aircraft of 73 took off at 1000 to intercept 20 Ju87s, 30 Bf109's 10 Bf110's. Plt Off Haldenby tried to land his damaged Hurricane V 7834 but was shot down in flames and killed, and Dickie Martin bailed out of V 7810, hurting his arm.
The CO got a Ju87 and a Bf109, then with V 7837 on fire bailed out and landed in the harbour - or rather on the edge of the harbour wall - in full view of the whole camp.*******Marshall claimed an 87 and landed to refuel but was shot up and wounded while on the ground******Roy Chatfield destroyed an 87 and force landed on the airfield and Littolf got another and a 109. An evening raid by 20 109's and 20 87;s saw Dennis claim one and a probable. The probable was none other than Marseille, who missed being shot (by Dennis) in the head by the proverbial hair's breadth.
24 By contrast a quiet day with no enemy activity.
25
The raids of the previous days had made it impractical for 73 to operate from Tobruk airfield and the CO, Goodman, Humphreys and Hoole left by Blenheim followed by the four serviceable and four flyable Hurricanes. Scott V 7673, Chatfield V 7858, Littolf V 7295, Eiby AS 990, Ballatore V 7292, Laing V 7566, Dennis W 9198 and Oliver P 3725.

Hope this all helps

Alex

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

I saw this photo on one of Ed West's regular postings of E-Bay material, in early June.

I read it as V7833.

The Air-Britain 'RAF T1000-V9999' aircraft serial register for V7833 only records "ME Lost 10.4.1941."

'HURRICANES OVER TOBRUK' by Brian Cull and Don Minterne on page 106 describes how Sgt-Chef de Scitivaux at 0905 hours on 10 April 1941 was hit by ground fire while strafing enemy vehicles. He crash-landed his Hurricane "on the beach at Umm Ghene Gniah about 25 miles from Tobruk". He suffered slight facial injuries but walked back to Tobruk. The location quoted above would also account for the presence of German troops in the photo.

I do not agree about the 73 Squadron flash being cut out. It does not look like the same shape to me. Indeed a closer viewing shows damage (from an undetermined cause) to the fuselage side which has resulted in the torn aircraft skin being peeled downwards, but critically it is still there.

I cannot detect a trace of a squadron code or individual letter. I also think the aircraft colour scheme is in remarkably good condition, in terms of weathering and repairs. Just look at any 73 Squadron Hurricane photos of this period. Many are badly worn and weathered. Nor have I seen any of these photos showing the distintive squadron flash. All this seems to indicate the aircraft on the beach was new or relatively so. No time to paint letters, let alone a large flash.

Also on page 106 it is recorded that 7 Hurricanes arrived in Tobruk from Ismailia that very morning. Six of the pilots were Free French volunteers, including de Scitivaux. The authors seem fairly sure of 6 of the serials for these Hurricanes but somewhat less so for the 7th.

Therefore I suggest that one of the above, probably the 7th, was V7833. This serial is nowhere mentioned in 'HURRICANES OVER TOBRUK' - I know, I've checked - which further strenghtens my belief it is V7833 due to its very, very short career with 73 Squadron.

As this is my second typing - the last one vanished - I will finish now.

Over to you gents, especially Brian.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

P.S. Thanks again Ed West.

[kaki3152]

Great Job Martin! The evidence all fits
So the locale is North Africa, April (or so) 1941.

Thanks to all the experts who weighed in.

CArlos

[Brian]

Excellent detective work, Martin! I couldn't have done better!

Best from sunny Suffolk

Cheers
Brian

[Martin Gleeson]

Thanks for the kind words Brian and Carlos. Glad to have helped.

Regards from a rainy Limerick.

Martin.

[Snautzer]

V7833 on ebay now https://www.ebay.de/itm/155936413305...IAAOSwsnplcvEd

crashed on beach

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

V7833 on ebay now https://www.ebay.de/itm/155936413305...IAAOSwsnplcvEd

crashed on beach

Same photo (in varied quality) has been up for sale at least four times before.
For some strange reason, I have uploaded it four times, that is how I know
Cleaned away three of them....now

Cheers
Stig