RCAF Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain

[Geoff Kennell]

Before the war 20 British-built Hurricanes were shipped out to Canada and given the serials 310 to 329. When No.1 RCAF Squadron came over to England in mid-1940, they brought 10 of these Hurricanes with them.

Can anyone tell me which ten Hurricanes were brought back to the UK & their former RAF serial numbers?

Cheers

Geoff.

[Alex Smart]

Hi Geoff,

Of the original Hurricane's sent to Canada, You say 10 were returned to the UK .
Serial numbers of these were -
RAF RCAF RCAFUK
L1759 310
L1760 311
L1761 312
L1762 313 YO-L
L1763 314
L1878 315 YO-M
L1879 316 - 3238M
L1880 317
L1881 318
L1882 319 YO-N
L1883 320 - 2578M
L1884 321 - Slip Wing a/c
L1885 322
L1886 323
L1887 324 Mid air Coll with L2082 18/8/40
L1888 325 761Sqdn RN/748Sqdn RN
L1890 326
L2021 327
L2022 328
L2023 329
L2144 330 - Not received
L1848 Pattern a/c

I have suggested at least 5 here, can anyone add to the list ?

Alex

[Brian]

Hi guys

311 was with RAF Servicing Ferry Pool in early 1941 and was attacked in error by another Hurricane (possibly from 118 Squadron) on 11 March 1941, whereupon it force-landed.

Cheers
Brian

[Geoff Kennell]

Thanks guys.

The aircraft I'm really interested in is '323' (ex 'L1886'?)in which Sgt Jack Hammerton lost his life whilst serving with No 615 Sqn RAF on the 6th November 1940, as we have relics from this Hurricane in our museum, and Jack is also one of the RAF airmen who lost his life close to the museum, and whom we will be raising a memorial in due course.

BTW '323' is the serial recorded in the 615 Sqn ORB.

Geoff.
(Shoreham Aircraft Museum, Kent)

[Alex Smart]

Hi Geoff,

Crashed near a rail way line at Noah's Ark, near Sevenoaks.
Buried at Stoke Road Cemetery, Slough. age 25yrs.
Detail from Men of the BoB by Wynn.

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hi ,

Nos: 311;313;314;315;316;318;319;320;321;324;325.
Take a look at http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/index.htm


night

Alex

[Rwrwalker]

Thanks to everyone for the information on RCAF Hurricanes returned to the RAF. This will eventually be added to one of my web pages, http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/RCAF_301_350_detailed.htm

My records show 14 of the original 20 aircraft returned to the RAF, 3 written off in Canada (312/L1761, 317/L1880, and 329/L2023), and the rest of uncertain ends. Any further information you may have would be most welcome.

Now, who knows anything about the Canadian built Lysanders that also travelled to the UK in early 1940, and were eventually handed over to the RAF? Canadian serials would have been in the 416 to 490 block. The only ones I know for sure that went to the RAF were 436 to 440, which became DG443 to DG447.

Bill Walker
London, Ontario

[Alex Smart]

hello Bill,

May Isay that I have found your site a wealth of information . Well done and thank you. It must have been quite an effort to research all that you have placed on the web.

I have looked for the ex-Norwegian Curtis P36 Mohawks that were not delivered to Norway prior to the german Invasion of that Country, but could not find them. Six of the batch I beleive were involved in accidents in Canada and the remainder were later returned to the US only to be sold on to Peru. Did these a/c while in Canada ever have Canadian serial numbers allotted to them ?

Thanks

Alex

[Rwrwalker]

Hi Alex;

Thanks for the kind words on the web pages. It's good to know somebody reads them.

The Norwegian Mohawks in Canada had Norwegian serials, and were never on the RCAF books, and never had an RCAF serial that I know of. Same with their Cornells.

Bill W.

[Geoff Kennell]

Cheers everyone.

Geoff