Tandem Hurricanes

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Has anyone any ideas as to were the 20 or so Soviet tandem Hurricane's were converted during the war ?
Were they converted before going to the USSR or after arrival in the USSR ?

Thanks
Alex

[Graham Boak]

Converted in Russia.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Graham,

Thank you for responding.

I had thought that they may just have been converted prior to delivery to the USSR while at Tehran, Iran.

As the two tandem Hurricanes delivered post WW2 to Iran were coded as "2-31" serial number KZ232 and "2-32" yet only one is said repeatedly to have been delivered. "2-31" was retro fitted with an aft cockpit cover, where was this done please? This a/c KZ232 was previously used by 41 OTU, any idea where the unit was based please ?

Additionally, the two early single seat deliveries, One pre WW2 coded as "252"was despatched in 1939. While the second for some reason recorded also as coded as "252" was said to have been delivered in 1940. This a/c had previously been used by 3RAAF, 274 and 229 Squadrons befopre being sent to Iran. Yet is also said to not to have been delivered. If so, then any ideas as to what became of P3720 ?


Thanks again
Alex

[Graham Boak]

41 OTU was initially formed at Old Sarum, training pilots for Army Cooperation flying with Lysanders and Tomahawks. Mustangs replaced the Lysanders, and it initially received Hurricanes as replacements for now-rare Tomahawks at Oatlands Hill. It then moved to Hawarden with satellites at Poulton, Andover and Middle Wallop.

I was not aware of any prewar deliveries to Iran. Looking at the previous service record of P3720 it clearly was not delivered to Iran until well after 1940, this must be a misprint. The Air Britain publication states that it was delivered to Iran as 252.

I see no reason to invent a conversion facility at Teheran. The Russians converted many fighters to two seaters and were indeed one of the few air forces to lead the way in this manner. If done under UK auspices there would have been factory records of the mods. The Spitfire 2-seaters were clearly different from the UK-converted aircraft, so why should the Hurricanes have been a special case? Structurally, its a doddle.

In view of the high quality photos of the rear canopy on the postwar delivery, it is a very safe bet that this was done at Hawkers - presumably the copyright on the photos will confirm this.