Hurricane 20mm cannon armed -1940

[Black6]

I read somewhere that at least one Hurricane armed with four 20mm cannons was active in Sep 1940, I believe likely a FIU aircraft flown by Sgt LS Pilkington (DFM) made a kill ? I cant find my copy of F K Mason but am convinced it was there. Any comments please ?

[gedburke3]

Hi,
Roddick Lee Smith of 151 Squadron trialled 2 and 4 cannon versions of the hurricane during the Battle of Britain.
He first flew the two cannon version (L1750) on July 6th 1940 on a cannon test at Dengie flats. He went on to fly it operationally throughout the whole of July and the first few weeks of August.
He first flew the 4 cannon version (V7360) on August 22nd 1940.
Regards
Gerry

[kaki3152]

According to some information see the following: F/Lt. A.C.Rabagliati from No 46 Squadron was flying a 4 Cannon Hurricane I ((V7360) PO B) on the 5th of September 1940 and shot down a Bf 109 with it.Supposedly the Bf109 was Bf109E-4, wn 1096, I/JG-54, Uffz Fritz Hotzelmann, POW.

[Black6]

thanks Gents

[bearoutwest]

Pilkington is interesting for other reasons. While instructing with 7 OTU, he was scrambled with several other instructor-pilots to intercept a Ju88. They were flying cannon-armed Spitfire I's (later, retrospectively re-designated Mk Ib). Pilkington was credited with a Ju88 shot down on that sortie.

Short bio, here, via an auction web-site:
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...04/lot-5371709

Took a while to find, but Pilkington and 7 OTU, previously discussed here:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...t=Spitfire+OTU

...geoff