46 Sqn. Hurricanes in Norway.

[Martin Gleeson]

Apparently 18 of their Hurricanes arrived in Norway during late May 1940. I have their ORB and am aware of the 10 lost in HMS 'Glorious' plus a few others lost in action or accidents.
However were any of the remaining Hurricanes shipped back to the UK in cargo vessels ? Looking at the serials for the 18 sent to Norway it seems that four served in the UK and elsewhere after June 1940 (L1798, L1814, L1892 & P2652), but what I need to know is are there any references in official documents or publications to any Hurricanes being shipped back to the UK.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Martin Gleeson]

I have been looking at this again and can add the following. However my original question still stands, about finding some proof that 4 of the 18 Hurricanes used by 46 Squadron in Norway were shipped back to the UK and how this was done.

15 of the 18 Hurricanes were flown multiple times in Norway according to the 46 Sqn. F.541. Of the others L1892 was not recorded once. L1798 flew once (May 28th), as did L1814 (May 27th).
'P2652' poses some problems. Four of the Hurricanes were in the N and P-serial range but sometimes both letters are used for the same aircraft, 'P2652' being a case in point.
On May 26th P2652 is shown being flown off HMS 'Glorious'. On May 27th and 28th it is recorded flying five times but always as N2652. It appears only once more, on June 2nd as 'P2652'. I cannot prove it but it is possible this is a typo for P2632 which was also being flown in Norway by 46 Squadron.

However I am more or less certain now that 'P2652' should be N2652.
The Form 78 Aircraft History Card for N2652 shows it with 46 Squadron since 5-4-1940, the next entry is to 4 M.U. with Category B damage on 28-6-1940. Finally to 229 Squadron in September 1940 and lost with them on the 30th of that month.
On the other hand the F.78 for P2652 shows it with various Maintenance Units in 1940 until sent to the Middle East in late July 1940. Specifically it was Taken on Charge by 20 M.U. on 23-5-1940 when it was supposed to have been on board HMS 'Glorious' according to the 46 Sqn. ORB. I have tracked down P2652 in the Middle East serving with 274 Squadron from September to December 1940 at least (from their online ORB). It was finally lost on 14-4-1941 flying with 73 Squadron (F/Lt. JD Smith) in Tobruk (AIR 81/5847). There is much variation in the serial for that loss and I am not going into that maze today !

The other three Hurricane histories can be summarized as follows.
L1798. The F.78 for this aircraft shows there is a gap between it going to 4 M.U.(for repair ?) on 19-3-1940 and to 27 M.U. on 10-7-1940. It was flown by several OTUs in 1940 and 1941.
L1814. The first entry on its F.78 is 46 Sqn. but with no date. Next it goes to 1 C.R.U. on 29-6-1940, later to an OTU, probably flying with them into 1941.
L1892. After 46 Sqn. it too goes to 1 C.R.U. (undated), then to 5 M.U. on 29-7-1940 and 111 Sqn. on 20-8-1940.

Of particular interest here is an entry in the 46 Sqn. F.541 for 26 May 1940 when it records they had two unidentified Hurricanes damaged out of ten attempting to land at a strip near Skanland. These are almost certainly two out of L1798, L1814 and L1892.
If I am correct about the June 2nd entry for 'P2652' being P2632 in reality, then it is clear none of the four Hurricanes flew later than May 28th thus making it easier to accept there was enough time for these four to be shipped back to the UK.
Based on their histories as outlined above it is not in question that they arrived back in the UK but I would like to see some evidence about their shipment back. To 'connect the dots' so to speak.

Hope someone can help.

Regards,

Martin.

[JohnE]

I have an old note saying that N2652 went u/s on 2nd June and was returned to UK.

John Engelsted

[Martin Gleeson]

Thanks John,

Any mention of which ship it might have been returned on ?

Regards,

Martin.

[JohnE]

Sorry, no other info.

John Engelsted

[Martin Gleeson]

Thanks again John.

Regards,

Martin.

[ATCCbengt]

Hi. This has been a problem for some time. Had a long e-mail exchange with Andrew Thomas about these Hurricanes, and a friend of him at the Air Historical Branch suggested that "P2652" was a typo for 2352 which went to Norway. This must then be N2352. Andrew sent me a copy of P2652 movement card which confirm what you write. It never was with 46 Squadron. At least two Hurricanes were damaged while landing at Skaanland. One ended up on its back and was returned to Britain. The pilots seat was left behind and was in the safe keeping with an old friend of mine. If "P2652" was in fact N2352/PO-T, this aircraft was left behind together with N2543/PO-K and L1812(code not known).


Bengt

[AndyMa]

I can't see how N2352 was left in Norway. It served with 605 Sqn, 302 Sqn, 55 OTU before going to the Navy in July 1941 and served until being damaged beyond repair in January 1943

[paulmcmillan]

Isn't confusion with P/N 2652 not N2352 ?

[Martin Gleeson]

Bengt,

It is N2652, not N2352.
N2352 had been with 605 Sqn. until 25 April 1940 when it had been damaged in a mid-air collision. The F.78 shows it was next Taken On Charge by 13 M.U. for repair on 2 May 1940 and later by 4 M.U. (De Havilland) on 25 May 1940.

Regards,

Martin.