111 Sqn RAF at 1938 Paris Air Show

[Smithy]

Hello all,

Does anyone have any photos of 111 Squadron's Hurricanes when they attended the 1938 Paris Air Show?

Cheers,

Tim.

[Amrit1]

The Paris Air Show from Flight Magazine December 1938:

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203361.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203362.pdf
(static Hurricane)
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203363.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203364.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203367.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203368.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203369.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203370.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203373.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203374.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203375.pdf
(Hurricanes flying line abrest but no Squadron info)
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203377.pdf
http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%203378.pdf

I hope you find it interesting

BTW - just noticed your avatar - excellent book. Have you ever seen the TV series from the late 80s? Terrible adaptation

[Smithy]

Thanks Amrit, once again you've been a great help!

However I was under the impression that 111's Hurris had their squadron number painted on the fuselage sides (with the upper half of the numbers in flight colours) at the time of the '38 Paris show. I have a profile by Jon Freeman of one such but am after photos of the scheme. Anyone?

Cheers,

Tim.

PS - Yes Amrit, I have seen the mini-series and actually have it on tape. I agree the series is not as good as the book but there's some wonderful flying sequences, especially the under the bridge bit by Ray Hanna.


EDIT: Oops, no wonder I'm having trouble finding images, 111 were at the Villacoublay Air Show not Paris. My mistake!

[Amrit1]

This from Flight Magazine (no pictures so hope someone else can help):

The Visit to France
ELEVEN Hawker Hurricane eight-gun fighters of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron, and four Gloster Gladiators of No. 87 (Fighter) Squadron, attended by a Vickers Valentia bomber transport and two Avro Ansons, left Northolt last Friday for Villacoublay, near Paris, where nine Hurricanes and three Gladiators gave demonstrations. Wing Cdr. S. L. G. Pope, D.F.C., was Officer-in-Charge and Air Comdre. R. E. Saul, D.F.C., accompanied the party. Poor weather prevented a record-breaking trip by the Hurricanes, but they reached Paris in 66 minutes. Presumably they were forced to throttle back to allow the escorting Amiot bombers and Dewoitine fighters, which went out to meet them, to keep formation. The Hurricanes' show was very well received. The programme was: Take-off by flights; squadron formation; line abreast; medium
turn; break up; landing by flights. The Gladiators put up their usual impeccable display which took the following form: Rocket loop; half roll off top; stall turn; half upward roll and loop;, slow roll; three loops', upward roll; half upward roll; loop and slow roll; half roll off loop. The necessary ground staff and spare equipment went over in the Valentia and the Ansons. During the stay the officers were to have attended an official dinner in Paris. ..New French machines taking part included the Potez 63 (see photograph on page 38) and the Amiot bomber, similar to the machine in which Rossi lately broke a series of world's records. On Sunday Group Capt. Orlebar flew from Northolt to Villacoublay (235 miles) in 55 minutes in a Hurricane.

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPD...20-%202008.pdf

[Smithy]

Thanks Amrit, every little bit helps.

I have some old Movietone footage of the 111 flypast but unfortunately no photos.

As you say hopefully someone here will be able to fill the gaps!

[Graham Boak]

There are several photos of 111 Sq aircraft at the time of this trip, with the squadron numbers you describe. They can be found scattered through several reference books of the Hurricane, including the Mk.1 Profile and Mason's classic works.

There are, however, several different versions of what the colours could be, and at least three different versions are visible in the photos: one reportedly being the squadron commander's.

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Profile Magazine number 111 has colour views of Gillan's L1555.
just has Sqdn crest on tail and rank under aft of cockpit, shown both sides.
Center views show L1584 with the 111 on the fuselage but colours shown halved, red top white below.
Photo on page 6 has two a/c but they have no Squadron numbers on fuselage, L1550 and L1558, crest on tail .
Photo on page 7 shows a/c with 111 on fuselage sides, some in what looks like white others with numbers split white below, darker colour on top .This time L1555 is shown fourth in but has all white "111" on sides.
Also they have the serial numbers under the wings.

EXTRA from Fighter Squadrons of the RAF -
With Hurricanes the squadron at first carried the number "111" in BLUE on the sides with the CO's a/c "111" in BLUE and WHITE. It then carried "TM" until the outbreak of war when they were changed to "JU".

Alex

[Smithy]

Alex, the information I have is that at the time of the Villacoublay outing, 111's fuselage markings were half white and half whatever the flight colour was for the aircraft in question. I have one of Jon Freeman's profiles for Gillan's at this time but as I said no photos.

Thanks to you and Graham's suggestions for publications where I can find some photos, looks like a trip to abebooks.com is in order!