Russian Hurricanes

[debowa]

Does anyone have information on the Hurricanes that were alleged to have shot down a Focke Wulf 189 V7+1H on 4th May 1943 near Loukhi or Louhi(100km from the Finnish border)? If they were Hurricanes, would they have been IIbs with the Vokes filter?

[MB]

That FW189 was shot down my Major Skliarenko, 760 IAP, flying Hurricane MkIIb with Soviet armament - 2x20mm ShVAKs + 2x12,7mm BKs. None ia known about those damn Vokes filters...

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by MB

None ia known about those damn Vokes filters...

In my very first book I published a photo, which shows a four-cannon Hurricane Mk. II, reportedly captured by Hungarian troops, with the Vokes filter clearly visible under the nose.

[Graham Boak]

But were they fitted to all Russian Hurricanes? I think not - so it is probably impossible to know, without a photo, whether this particular one did or did not. The serial might be a hint, but I don't think that Hurricanes were normally recorded as being tropicalised or not. Photos of aircraft with close serials might be a good hint.

[MB]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

But were they fitted to all Russian Hurricanes? I think not - so it is probably impossible to know, without a photo, whether this particular one did or did not. The serial might be a hint, but I don't think that Hurricanes were normally recorded as being tropicalised or not.

You're completely right, my friend.

BTW, I have seen a lot of Soviet Hurricanes, but only 1 or 2 photos with those tropical filters!

[debowa]

Thanks for your expert help on this. I'm producing a painting of the combat and as usual there are many questions that pop up in the search for accuracy, including the presence of Vokes filters or not...

The Fw189 was apparently found with its snow camouflage intact yet it was shot down in May 43 and Loukhi isn't so far north; do you think the Russian Hurricanes would also have been white? (I can always paint them in silhouette if we're not sure!)

[MB]

Originally Posted by debowa

do you think the Russian Hurricanes would also have been white? (I can always paint them in silhouette if we're not sure!)

Yes, there's a high chance that Hurricanes were painted in temporary winter scheme, but in May the white paint layer maybe very 'damaged' already.

Can't find the Hurry photo at the moment, but take a look on that MiG-3 and its 'winter' scheme: