Canadian Warplanes 3: Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo, AM640-S1-: CVA 260-1023)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 314), Vancouver, British Columbia, 1939.

The Hawker Hurricane is a single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF).  The Hurricane developed through several versions, as bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft in addition to fighters.  Versions designed for the Navy were popularly known as the Sea Hurricane, with modifications enabling their operation from ships.  Some were converted to be used as catapult-launched convoy escorts.  By the end of production in July 1944, 14,487 Hurricanes had been completed in Britain and Canada.

By 1939, with war on the horizon, Canadian Car & Foundry and its Chief Engineer, Elsie MacGill, were contracted by the  to produce the Hawker Hurricane (Marks X, XI and XII). Refinements introduced by MacGill on the Hurricane included skis and de-icing gear. When the production of the Hurricane was complete in 1943, CC&F's workforce of 4,500 (half of them women) had built over 1,400 aircraft, about 10% of all Hurricanes built.

The staff and volunteers at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) have compiled detailed loss reports of RCAF and Canadian casualties in the RAF during the Second World War. These records can be found by examining the specific aircraft of interest in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource (CASPIR) files here.

The loss records for the Hurricane can be viewed here. RCAF On Strength (454), RCAF 400 Squadron (1), Canadian Aircraft Losses (358)

The loss records for the Sea Hurricane can be viewed here. RCAF On Strength (51), Canadian Aircraft Losses (10)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN Np. 3582432)

Hawker Hurricanes on the tarmac at Boundary Bay, British Columbia, 3 April 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3222815)

Left to right, David Boyd, Brian Sheaver, Elsie MacGill and Mary Boyd watching the flight of a Hawker Hurricane aircraft at Canadian Car and Foundry Co. flying field in 1941.

A major manufacturer of the Hurricane was Canadian Car and Foundry at their factory in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario.  The facility's chief engineer, Elsie MacGill, became known as the "Queen of the Hurricanes".  The CCF conctract was signed in 1938. The initiative was commercially led rather than by the Canadian government, but was endorsed by the British government.

The Hawker company had recognized that a major conflict was all but inevitable after the Munich Crisis of 1938, and drew up preliminary plans to expand Hurricane production via a new factory in Canada.  Under this plan, samples, pattern aircraft, and a complete set of design documents stored on microfilm, were shipped to Canada; the RCAF ordered 20 Hurricanes to equip one fighter squadron and two more were supplied to Canadian Car and Foundry as pattern aircraft but one probably did not arrive.  The first Hurricane built at Canadian Car and Foundry was officially produced in February 1940.  As a result, Canadian-built Hurricanes were shipped to Britain to participate in events such as the Battle of Britain.  Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) was responsible for the production of 1,451 Hurricanes.  (Wikipedia)

Canadian built Hurricanes

Hurricane Mk. II, built by CCF. A total of 1,025 Mk. II airframes were made for Holland (1), the RAF (624), and the RCAF (400), between July 1941 and May 1943. The Mk. X designation has been used by the RAF for the CCF-built Mk. I but it is usually defined as Mk. II airframes fitted with a Merlin 28 engine.  About two thirds of the CCF built Mk. II airframes shipped to Britain did so without an engine, the remainder being fitted with Merlin 28s in Canada, but the engine was nearly automatically removed upon arrival and a Merlin XX fitted instead and the aircraft called Mk. II by the RAF.  Apart from some test flights in Canada and England no Hurricane flew powered by a Merlin 28.  Canada also only imported 285 Merlin 28 engines for Hurricanes, all of which were shipped to Britain either as a separate engine or attached to a Hurricane. Mk. X CCF-built variant. The Mark X designation was used at times by the RAF for the Canadian built Mk. I. Hurricane  Mk. X and Mk. XI designations were not officially used in Canada. (Geoffrey Sinclair)

Hurricane Mk. XII, Canadian-built variant designated Mk. XI used for 150 aircraft from the RCAF Mk. XII order sent to Britain. These aircraft had their Merlin 29 removed and were either shipped without an engine or fitted with a Merlin 28.  Fitted with Merlin XX on arrival in Britain and called Mk. II by the RAF.

Hurricane Mk. XII Canadian-built variant. Single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber. Powered by a 1,300 hp (969 kW) Packard Merlin 29. Initially armed with 12 0.303 in (7.7-mm) machine guns, but this was later changed to four 20-mm (.79 in) cannon. 400 were built for the RCAF with B wings. 150 were sent to the UK. (Geoffrey Sinclair)

Hurricane Mk. XIIA Canadian-built variant. Single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber.  An order for 400 Mk. II airframes for the RCAF powered by a 1,300 hp (970 kW) Packard Merlin 29, armed with eight 0.303 in (7.7-mm) machine guns, with production starting in June 1942. 150 were sent to Britain in 1943 either engineless or fitted with a Merlin 28. Also a batch of 30 RAF order Mk. II airframes was retained in Canada in late 1941 and initially fitted with Merlin III became Mk. XII when later fitted with Merlin 29. The Mk. XIIA were the survivors of the 50 CCF-built 50 Sea Hurricanes retained in Canada and 30 Mk. I from CCF orders for the UK transferred to the RCAF when they were upgraded from Merlin III to Merlin 29 engines, and A wings armed with 8 0.303 in machine guns. One additional Sea Hurricane Mk. I came from the UK (Serial No. V7402), for a total of 51.

Note, Sea Hurricane Mk. I (Serial No. V7402) served with 15 MU from 22 Aug 1940, then with No. 501 Squadron, RAF from 31 Aug 1940. V7402 crashed at Gravesend, CB on 2 Sep 1940. 49 MU salvaged 13 Sep 1940, 13 MU 15 Sep 40, 51 MU 15 Oct 1940 GAL MSFU 25 June 1941 13MU 3 Sep 1941, MSFU 14 Sep 1941, CAM ship 'Empire Spray' 18 Oct 1941, 13MU 14 Dec 1941, MSFU 18 Mar 1942, CAM ship 'Empire Foam' 3 Apr 1942, RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 4 June 1942. (Geoffrey Sinclair)

Holland standard Hurricane. Canadian built variant. RAF serial airframe AM270 was completed around early March 1942 to Dutch standards, including US built Merlin, instruments and gun sight, as the prototype of an order for the Netherlands East Indies (KM/KNIL).  Given the Dutch serial HC3-287, its subsequent fate is unclear beyond being used by CCF for test flying. AM270 was also used by the RAF for a Consolidated San Diego built Catalina creating a further level of confusion.

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I (50), (Serial Nos. 310-329, 1351-1380), Mk. IIC (1), (Serial No. A274 (ex HV961), Mk. XII (401), (Serial Nos. 5376-5775), 9426 (post war serial for a recovered Hurricane of unknown serial), Mk. XIIA (50), (V7402, BW835-BW884), Sea Hurricane (1), (Serial R4177), for a total of 503 aircraft.

The first Hawker Hurricanes operated by the RCAF were British built Mk. Is built with a fabric wing and flew with a two blade prop, RCAF (Serial Nos. 310 to 329).  A British-built Hurricane Mk. I (Serial No. L1848) was provided to Canadian Car & Foundry (CC&F) as a pattern aircraft for production.  The first Hurricanes produced for the RCAF by CC&F were Hurricane Mk. Xs. These were basically Canadian built Hurricane Mk. Is with cut down Fairey Battle props without spinners, eight-gun wings, and no glare shields. RCAF Mk. I (Serial Nos. 1351 to 1380).

Note: Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIC (Serial No. HV961) was sent to 5 MU 15 Sep 1942, 52 MU 24 Sep 1942, Birkenhead Hull 'Nurani' 3 Oct 1942, Karachi AC 3 Feb 1942, 1 OTU Canada 3 Feb 1943, damaged en route rtp, one of a small number of aircraft damaged being shipped across the Atlantic, sent to the RCAF for disposal. (Geoffrey Sinclair)

RCAF Hurricane Squadrons in Canada's Home War Establishment during the Second World War

At the outbreak of the Second World War Canada had only a handful of obsolete post First World War Siskin and Atlas biplane fighters for air defence.  The RCAF attempted to fill the void with Grumman Goblin and Curtiss Kittyhawk fighters until Canadian industry could start producing the Hurricane built under license from Hawker in England.  The Canadian Car and Foundry Company, in Fort William Ontario (now Thunder Bay) flew the first Canadian-built Hurricane on 9 January 1940.  

Hurricane production in Canada accelerated rapidly after the initial production of Mk. Is.  The Packard-built Merlin 28 engines were installed after August 1941. The Hurricane Mk. XII with the Packard-built Merlin 29 engine, had a 12-gun wing.  However, later production Mk. XIIs were equipped with four cannon and a universal wing. The Mk. XIIA Hurricane was identical to the Mk. XII except for having an eight-gun wing. The universal wing had no provision for cannon, a number of the CCF Hurricanes arriving in the UK in 1943 were fitted with C wings before delivery to the RAF (Mk. IIB production in the UK had ceased in October 1942, Canada only built A and B wing versions). (Geoffrey Sinclair)

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In response to the German potential to conduct air attacks on Canada with long range Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condors and aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier Graf Zepplin, the RCAF established an air defence network to protect Canada's eastern air approaches and Halifax's strategic harbour.  The first British-built Hurricanes appeared at RCAF Station Dartmouth in November 1939 with the arrival of No. 1 Squadron.  The Squadron was transferred to England in June 1940 where it was the only Canadian squadron to participate in the historic Battle of Britain.  The squadron was subsequently re-numbered No. 401 Squadron and went on to become the RCAF's highest scoring squadron in the Second World War.

Most of Canada's Home War Establishment fighter squadrons were equipped with Canadian produced Hurricanes.  Eastern Air Command (EAC) Nos. 126, 127 and 129 Hurricane Squadrons were formed at RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, in the summer of 1942.  No. 125 and No. 128 Squadrons were formed at Sydney, Nova Scotia, while No. 130 Squadron was formed at Mont Joli, Quebec, in the summer of 1942.  All of these squadrons provided air defence for the East Coast, especially Halifax's strategic harbour.  These six Hurricane squadrons were disbanded at the end of the war.  (Shearwater Aviation Museum)

Eastern Air Command (EAC) was tasked with coordinating air defence in the Atlantic region. The Dominion of Newfoundland – not yet a part of Canada – was placed under Canadian military protection so that EAC territory included Eastern Quebec, Labrador, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.  EAC headquarters were located in Halifax, next to those of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), since maritime protection entails close cooperation between navy and air force. A network of air force bases expanded rapidly: Halifax, Dartmouth, Yarmouth, Sydney, Gander, Torbay, Bagotville. Flying boat bases were built in Gaspé, Shelburne, and Botwood.  The East Coast fighters served alongside the bombers of Nos. 5, 10, 11 and 113 (Bomber-Reconnaissance) Squadrons, and Nos. 117 (BR) and 162 (BR) which flew out of Iceland under  British Coastal Command.

On the West Coast, RCAF established Western Air Command (WAC) on 1 March 1938, and started building facilities to support a Pacific Coast-based air force.  Western Air Command (WAC) Nos. 132, 133 and 135 Squadrons were formed at Patricia Bay, British Columbia, and No. 163 Squadron was formed at Sea Island, British Columbia.  Squadrons assigned to the protection of the northern sector formed No. 4 Group, with headquarters in Prince-Rupert.  No. 2 Group’s HQ at Jericho Bay (Vancouver) was in charge of the southern sector of the British Columbia coast.  The West Coast fighters served alongside the bombers of Nos. 8, 115 and 149 Squadrons, RCAF.

No. 125 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, was formed on 20 April 1942 at RCAF Station Sydney, Nova Scotia, as part of  Eastern Air Command, flying Hawker Hurricanes.  It was renumbered No. 441 Fighter Squadron when it transferred overseas to RAF Station Digby, Lincolnshire, England, on 8 February 1944.  It was posted to airfields in England, France, and Belgium throughout the Second World War, flying the Supermarine Spitfire.  When the squadron returned to England it was disbanded on 7 August 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3224377)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, No. 129 Squadron, RCAF, being towed on the flight line, RCAF Station Goose Bay, Labrador, May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4982739)

Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk. XIIA (Serial No. BW850), coded BV-T, No. 126 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF.  These two are patrolling from their base at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 9 Aug 1942.  Hurricane BW850 was converted to the Mk. XIIA version by Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF).  It retains its eight-gun wing and the tail hook. It was stored at Dartmouth, as reserve aircraft for the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit of the RAF. Served with No. 126 (F) Squadron at RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS in 1942, Category D crash at Dartmouth while with this unit on 8 September 1942. Back to Canada Car & Foundry at Fort William on 28 January 1943, originally scheduled for conversion to Hurricane Mk. IIB, but returned to Eastern Air Command as Mk. XIIA on 21 June 1943. To No. 1 (F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec. To stored reserve 26 October 1944. Available for disposal from 21 April 1945. Had 710:20 airframe time when struck off.

No. 126 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, formed on 27 April 1942 at RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, as part of as part of  Eastern Air Command, flying Hawker Hurricanes.  Nicknamed the Flying Lancers, the squadron was employed on East Coast air defence until disbanded on 31 May 1945.  No. 126 Squadron's unit code was BV, with Hurricane Mk. XIIA (Apr 1942 - Dec 1942), Serial Nos. BW835 F, BW844 O, BW852 J, BW853 L, BW854 X, BW855 E, BW867 Z, BW882 H, and Hurricane Mk. XII (Dec 1942 - May 1945), Serial Nos.  5430 L, 5476 B, 5489 D, 5489 E, 5496 X, 5640 G, 5653 F, 5664 N, 5665 M, 5668 H, 5672 Z, 5699 P, 5700 T, 5709 V, 5712 R, 5717 S.  Casualties: Operational: 2 aircraft, 2 pilots killed.  Non-Operational: 7 aircraft, 4 pilots killed, 1 airmen died.

(Francois Dutil Photo)

Hawker Sea Hurricane (Serial No. BW837), No. 127 Squadron, RCAF, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, 1942. Canadian Car & Foundry. Delivered by RAF pilot from Halifax Pool of the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit. Stored pending transfer to RN at Halifax. Taken on charge by No. 118 (F) Squadron at Dartmouth on 9 December 1941. Crashed at Dartmouth on 12 January 1942, originally classified Category C, amended to Category B. Another Category B crash at Dartmouth, with 118 Sdn., on 16 September 1942. Repaired at Canada Car & Foundry at Amherst, NS, back to Eastern Air Command on 8 December 1942. With No. 123 (Army Cooperation Training) Squadron at RCAF Station Derbert, Nova Scotia when it crashed on 5 January 1943. Text from 439 Squadron web site: "Only hours after its acceptance check, this brand-new Hurricane was written off on the 5 Jan 1942 (sic). Hardly had he become airborne when the engine began to cut out intermittently. The pilot (F/O Prendergast) tried to turn back to the airfield, but as he did so the engine stopped completely and the Hurricane came down in a grove of trees about one mile south of the field. Cutting a swath through 100 yards of spruce trees, the aircraft came to rest with its starboard wing torn off, the propeller wrenched from the engine, the fuselage broken in two behind the cockpit, and the engine twisted to one side." Never converted to Mk. XIIA.

While the Sea Hurricane never served in the Royal Canadian Navy, many were, ironically, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.  In late 1941, the RCAF found itself without any frontline fighters, having sent its earlier Hawker Hurricanes off to the UK along with No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, and was having a hard time procuring additional fighters to meet its needs.  For reasons that are still slightly unclear, the RCAF received 50 Sea Hurricanes in 1942.  It is assumed that these aircraft, built in Thunder Bay, Ontario by Canadian Car and Foundry, were to be used as part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Merchant Ship Fighting Unit (MSFU) based in Canada, but were diverted to the RCAF.  These Sea Hurricanes were basically a Hurricane Mk. I with a tail-hook, catapult spools, a short blunt de Havilland spinner, and an eight gun wing.  (Jim Bates)

(Carl Vincent Photo via Jim Bates)

Hawker Sea Hurricane (Serial No. BW866) in the snow.  This Hurricane was operated by the Dartmouth Maintenance Pool in Nova Scotia.  They were allocated the 1 and 2 codes in 1942. Canadian Car & Foundry. tored at Dartmouth, as reserve aircraft for the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit of the RAF. To CC&F at Fort William on 28 January 1943, originally scheduled for conversion to Hurricane Mk. IIB, but returned to Eastern Air Command as Mk. XIIA on 5 July 1943. To No. 1 (F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec. To stored reserve 26 October 1944. Available for disposal from 21 April 1945. Had 748:35 airframe time when struck off.

The Sea Hurricanes wore Serial Nos. BW835 to BW884, and entered into RCAF service with hooks retained, ROYAL NAVY painted on the fuselage, and painted in the Fleet Air Arm scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey over Sky.

Though photographic proof is scant, it appears that some aircraft had their tail-hooks removed during their RCAF service or that some of the aircraft were MSFU Hurricanes without tail hooks.  Most of the Sea Hurricanes spent their time flying out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on strength with 126 (F) Squadron.  (Oddly, 118 (F) Squadron was heavily involved with Sea Hurricanes at the time even though it was not a Hurricane squadron.  The unit flew both with RCAF Sea Hurricanes and MSFU aircraft and appears to have accepted many of the RCAF Sea Hurricanes from the manufacturer.)  In 1943, the Sea Hurricane survivors were returned to Canadian Car and Foundry and upgraded to Hurricane Mk. XIIa status.  This involved fitting US made Packard Merlin engines and the related fuselage extension, removal of the tail-hooks, and a repaint into the standard RCAF Hurricane scheme of Dark Earth and Dark Green over Sky.  After their return to service, most of these Hurricanes were allocated to 1 Operational Training Unit (OTU) in Bagotville, Quebec, for training purposes.  (Jim Bates)

No. 127 Squadron, RCAF, formed in July 1942 at RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, as part of as part of  Eastern Air Command.  It operated along the East Coast of Canada (including RCAF Gander in Newfoundland) flying Hawker Hurricanes until late 1943, when it was selected for overseas service.  Arriving in Britain on 8 February 1944, it was redesignated No. 443 Squadron at Bournemouth and was soon based at RAF Digby, Lincolnshire, together with Nos. 441 and 442 Squadrons as Article XV squadrons under RAF control.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3592489)

Infantrymen of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment, who are riding in a Universal Carrier, talking with F/O O.K. Morgan, who stands in front of a Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII with No. 127 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, Gander, Newfoundland, May 1943.  This Hurricane is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing.

(RCAF Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII (Serial No. 5497), No. 127 Squadron RCAF, Gander Airfield, Newfoundland, 16 December 1942. 5497 made two flights that day with F/O Holden doing a formation flight, this might be the refuel and the another A&E check that afternoon. (Lee Walsh)

(443 Squadron Photo)

Working up on Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vs from RAF Westhampnett, the squadron received Spitfire Mk. IXs the following month when a move was made to Holmesley South to form No. 144 Wing, RAF, 2nd Tactical Air Force, and the squadron became operational.  The first sorties were as bomber escorts and until the invasion in June the squadron carried out deep penetration missions using 90 gallon drop tanks.  During the landings themselves, the squadron provided low level fighter cover and on 15 June 1944 it moved to France, where it served in the close-support and armed reconnaissance role.  It became heavily involved in ground attack sorties and continued to move forward following the Allied advance through Belgium and into the Netherlands to maintain its close air support of the ground forces.  Having returned to RAF Warmwell for an air-firing course the squadron missed the Luftwaffe's New Years attack on Allied airfields.  Unlike its two fellow squadrons, it did not return to Britain, but stayed on the continent, following the Allied armies advance into Germany equipped with the Spitfire Mk. XVI.  With the end of the war the squadron joined the British Air Forces of Occupation until disbanding at Uetersen on 15 March 1946.

(Collingwood Photo courtesy of Stuart Collingwood)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIs coded 1-R and 2-T in formation, No. 128 (Fighter) Squadron en route to Gander, Newfoundland, in 1942.

No. 128 (Fighter) Squadron dispatched four Hurricane Mk. II's along with four from No. 125 (Fighter) Squadron to Gander on 24 Nov, 1942.  They were escorted by a Douglas Digby from No. 119 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron followed by a Consolidated Canso from North Sydney, Nova Scotia.  

No. 128 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, formed on 7 June 1942 at RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, as part of as part of  Eastern Air Command.  It operated along the East Coast of Canada flying Hawker Hurricanes until it was disbanded on 30 September 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, 3224384)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII pair, No. 129 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, May 1943. RCAF Station Goose Bay, Labrador. The squadron operated from there between 8th of April to the 15th of October, 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, 3224859)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. VII pair, No. 129 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, 3224383)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. VII, No. 129 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, with a Douglas Boston of RAF Ferry Command in the background, May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, 3224385)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. VII pair, No. 129 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, May 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, 3224386)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. VII pair, No. 129 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, May 1943.

No. 129 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, formed on 28 August 1942 at RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, as part of as part of  Eastern Air Command.  It operated along the East Coast of Canada, flying Hawker Hurricanes until it was disbanded on 15 March 1944.

Two Hawker Hurricane-equipped squadrons had detachments at Goose Bay, Labrador, No. 129 'Micmac' (Fighter) Squadron (8 April, 1943 to 15 October, 1943) which was replaced by No. 130 'Panther' (Fighter) Squadron (26 October, 1943 to 15 March, 1944).

No. 130 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, formed on 1 May 1942 at RCAF Mont Joli, Quebec, as part of as part of  Eastern Air Command.  It operated along the East Coast of Canada flying Hawker Hurricanes until it was disbanded on 15 March 1944.

No. 132 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, formed on 14 April 1942 at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, British Columbia, as part of Western Air Command.  It was disbanded on 30 September 1944.

No. 133 (Fighter Squadron), RCAF, formed on 3 June 1942 at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, British Columbia, as part of Western Air Command.  It was disbanded on 10 September 1945.

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5414), downtown Edmonton, Alberta, 1945. Canadian Car & Foundry. Delivered to No. 4 Training Command for No. 135 (F) Squadron at Mossbank, Saskatchewan on 5 August 1942. Still with this unit when it transferred to Western Air Command, and moved to RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC on 1 October 1942. To Coates Limited, Vancouver, probably for repairs and overhaul, 11 May 1944 to 21 February 1945, to stored reserve with No. 2 Air Command when completed. To North West Air Command, on loan to Victory Loan Campaign from 11 April 1945. To stored reserve with No. 2 Air Command on 16 May 1945. Available for disposal from 12 July 1945. Had 351:55 hours since new, 12:30 since overhaul on this date.

(DesMazes collection Photo)

Photo taken in Lethbridge, Alberta in late 1942-early 1943.  This aircraft was one of the No. 133 Fighter Squadron Hawker Hurricanes that made an historic trip to Boundary Bay, BC, in February 1943.  Boundary Bay had been re-designated a Home War Defense Station and No. 133 was tasked with protecting the Air space of the Greater Vancouver Area from possible attack from Japanese Forces.  The Squadron made the trip non stop from Lethbridge.

No. 135 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, formed on 15 June 1942 at formed at Mossbank, Saskatchewan.  It flew the Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII and Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. IV on West Coast defence until it was disbanded at Patricia Bay, British Columbia on 10 Sep 1945.

No. 163 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, authorized as No.163 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron at RCAF Station Sea Island, Vancouver, British Columbia on 1 March 1943.  The squadron flew the Bristol Bolingbroke Mk. IV aircraft as part of Western Air Command on West Coast photographic work.  The squadron also flew the North American Harvard Mk. II in close air support training for Canadian troops at Wainwright, Alberta.  It converted to the Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII in Jun 1943.  On 14 Oct 1943 the squadron was redesignated No. 163 (Fighter) Squadron and was re-equipped with the Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. I and Mk. III.  The squadron was employed on West Coast air defence until it was disbanded on 15 March 1944.

No. 414 Squadron was assigned to Army Co-operation Command in 1941 and No. 430 Squadron in early 1943. They were equipped with Curtiss Tomahawks, and later with North American Mustangs.  All three RCAF Army Co-operation squadrons were assigned to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and took part in the air defence of Great Britain between 1941 and 1943.

Fighter Command’s role was to protect Great Britain by intercepting enemy intruders.  The Chain Home, a series of radar stations built along the coast, and an extensive network of observers and ground controllers provided early warning of approaching aircraft.  This allowed the RAF to detect enemy bombers and fighters and direct fighter squadrons to intercept them.  This detection and interception-based system demonstrated its efficiency during the Battle of Britain (July-October 1940).

During the Battle of Britain, Fighter Command pilots flew Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires.  Those aircraft performed in an outstanding manner against Luftwaffe bombers (Heinkel He 111, Dornier Do 17, Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Junkers Ju 88).  The Hurricane, however was no match for the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter that was faster, more flexible and, able to reach higher altitudes.  The Bf 109 was also a formidable foe for the Spitfire Mk. II that the RAF used as of July 1940.  Allied fighter pilots had to be extremely skilful to make the best possible use of their manoeuvrability during those merciless encounters with the Luftwaffe.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo, AM640-S1-: CVA 260-1020)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 314), Vancouver, British Columbia, 1939. Ex RAF L1763. Shipped to Vancouver. Used by A Flight, No. 1 (F) Squadron, at RCAF Station Sea Island, BC. To No. 3 Repair Depot, Vancouver on 6 June 1939. To Western Air Command 1 April 1940. Sent to UK with No. 1 (F) Squadron in 1940. Returned to RAF shortly after, but retained RCAF serial number. Operated by No. 6 (later No. 56) OTU, RAF, from mid 1940. Crash landed and tipped up 1 mile south east of Sutton Bridge, UK on 19 July 1940, following engine failure on approach.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo, AM640-S1-: CVA 260-1019)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 314), Vancouver, British Columbia, 1939.

Hawker Hurricanes serving with Canada's Home Defence establishment during the war.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3207274)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 315). Ex RAF L1878. Shipped to Vancouver, BC. Used by No. 1 (F) Squadron, at RCAF Station Sea Island, BC. With this unit to Calgary, Alberta 8 June 1939. Moved with squadron detachment to RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS, 5 November 1939. On the 5 Dec 1939, the a/c had a "B" Cat accident when the pilot became lost and ran low on fuel. A subsequent air lock in the fuel lines caused an engine failure necessitating a wheels and flaps up forced landing. To Canada Car & Foundry 12 January to 25 May 1940, for repairs. Had 69:00 airframe time when it arrived. Repairs cost $13,221.00. Used by Test & Development Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, dates unknown. Sent to UK with No. 1 (F) Squadron in 1940, coded "YO-M" while in the UK. Returned to RAF shortly after, but retained RCAF serial number. Operated by No. 6 (later No. 56) OTU, RAF, late 1940 / early 1941. Gear up landing at Sutton Bridge, UK on 7 November 1940. Later to No. 6 STT, became instructional airframe 3238M on 18 July 1942.

(Griffin Library Photo via Fred Paradie)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 1362), on Noorduyn 10 skis being tested at the CC&F factory in 1942.  This Hurricane crashed on 8 March 1944 at Bagotville, Quebec. Canadian Car & Foundry. Diverted from RAF contract, was RAF Mk. I AG310. Delivered to stored reserve. Tested on Noorduyn No. 10 skiis at CC&F factory from 27 April 1942. Back to Eastern Air Command on 16 May 1942. To Canada Car & Foundry for conversion to Mk. XIIA, 21 June to 5 August 1943. To No. 1 (F) Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec when completed. Category A crash at Bagotville on 8 March 1944. The student pilot was making his first flight on oxygen. During a section height climb, he is believed to have lost consciousness and crashed. Sgt E.I. Brock was killed. Serviceable parts recovered, forwarded to No. 4 Repair Depot at Scoudouc, NB.

(DND Photo via Chris Charland)

Canadian-built Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII from No. 130 "Panther" (F) Squadron.  The squadron operated Hurricanes from RCAF Stations Mont-Joli and Bagotville in Quebec and RCAF Station Goose Bay, Labrador between September, 1942 and March, 1944.  The Hurricane superceded the Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk. I which had been in use by the squadron between May and October 1942.  (The Serial No. would be in the 53xx, 54xx, 55xx, 56xx, 57xx series).  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 358371)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII with jettisonable fuel tanks, 19 May 1944.  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing.

(RCAF Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5625), No. 13 (Photographic) Squadron, RCAF.  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing.  This Hurricane is painted with a Type C-1 roundel on her fuselage.  It was built at the Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) factory at Port Arthur, Ontario (now Thunder Bay).  5625 was delivered to No. 3 Training Command, and then went to a Home War Establishment squadron.  5625 survived the war, but after being struck off strength (SOS), languished in a scrapyard in Guelph, Ontario, until being sold for parts to Rem Walker of Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1980.  Components of 5625 (as well as two other CCF Hurricanes (Serial Nos. 5547 and 5424) were used in the restoration of Hurricane Mk. XII (Serial No. 5711).  5711, with 5625 parts, was then sold to B.J.S. Grey of Duxford, UK in December 1982.  This aircraft was shipped from Canada to the Fighter Collection at Duxford, on 9 June 1983.  It was registered as G-HURI in Great Britain.

(RCAF Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5625), No. 13 (Photo) Squadron, RCAF. Canadian Car & Foundry. Operated by No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario in 1943. To No. 1 Air Command on 15 January 1945. Operated by No. 7 (P) Wing, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario in fall of 1945. Pending disposal from 5 July 1946, with No. 9 (T) Group at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. Had 417:40 total time when struck off. Sold to Mr. R. Reid of Reid's Flying Service of Guelph, Ontario. Delivered from Rockcliffe to Guelph on 19 October 1946. Civil flight approval requested, but not granted. Displayed outdoors at Guelph 1947 to 1956. Reported in scrap yard in Guelph after that. Remains sold to R. Walker of Regina, Saskatchewan in 1980. Parts used to restore Hurricane 5711 . By 2000 was at Moore Aviation Restoration at Waterloo Regional Airport in Ontario, under restoration.

(RCAF Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5470), possibly RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, ca 1945.  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing. Canadian Car & Foundry. Fitted for rockets. Served with No. 129 (F) Squadron on the east coast, 1942/43. Coded HA*L". Also with No. 130 (F) Squadron on east coast, coded AE-L. Used by No. 1 (F) Operational Training Unit, RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec, July 1943. To stored reserve with EAC on 15 January 1944. Back to No. 1 (F) OTU from 24 April 1944. Became lost over Maine while ferrying to Dartmouth with 5666 on 29 October 1944, both aircraft forced landed after running out of fuel. To No. 9 Repair Depot for write off on 15 November 1944.

(Bagotville Air Defence Museum Photo)

No. 1 OTU’s flight line in the fall of 1943.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3207275)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 16 Sep 1942.  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing.

(Library & Archives Canada Photos, MIKAN No. 3650867)

Hawker Hurricane Mk XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5698), Oct 1944.  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing. Canadian Car & Foundry. Delivered to long term storage at Halifax, Nova Scotia, pending delivery of radiator. Issued to No. 1 Naval Air Gunners School at RCAF Station Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on 8 April 1944, arrived there on 15 April 1944. First Hurricane with this unit. To stored reserve on 6 March 1945. Pending disposal from 30 August 1945. Stored at Mont Joli, Quebec, from 27 November 1945, and at Mount Pleasant, Prince Edward Island, dates unknown. Had 123:00 airframe time when struck off.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3650865)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5698).  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner.  It does have glare shields, and a twelve gun wing.  No. 1 Air Gunnery School, RN.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4164721)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583666)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF, aircraft controls, 7 Feb 1945.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643694)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, cockpit.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3643708)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, cockpit.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582338)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5650), 26 Jan 1943.  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing. Canadian Car & Foundry. First used by No. 1 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Bagotville, Quebec. Category C damage at 15:30 on 25 January 1943, at Rockcliffe aerodrome. To stored reserve with No. 3 Training Command on 26 October 1944. To No. 1 Air Command on 15 January 1945, still in storage. Pending disposal from 21 April 1945. Had 766:50 airframe time when struck off.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582339)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5650), 25 Jan 1943.  It is equipped with a Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, and twelve gun wing. Hurricane i5650 was serving with No. 124 (Ferry) Squadron. It nosed up after the starboard wheel dropped into a large rut while taxiing at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario.

(RCAF Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF (Serial No. 5501), coded L, No. 125 (Fighter) Squadron, 28 Feb 1943. Canadian Car & Foundry. Served with No. 125 (F) Squadron on the east coast in 1942. Category C damage at RCAF Station Torbay, Newfoundland at 13:25 on 29 January 1943. To stored reserve with EAC from 19 April 1944 to 18 April 1945. Back to storage with EAC on 11 May 1945, available for disposal there from 30 August 1945, when it had 689:20 airframe time. Stored post war at Mont Joli, Quebec.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205809)

Pilots of No.125 (F) Squadron RCAF, with a Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII,  Torbay, Newfoundland, 2 Oct 1942.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583271)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF, with Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, twelve gun wing and auxiliary gas tanks, 31 Aug 1943.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583034)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII, RCAF, with Hamilton Standard propeller without spinner, glare shields, twelve gun wing and auxiliary gas tanks, 31 Aug 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3207506)

Hawker Hurricane, No. 5 Operational Training Unit (RCAF Schools and Training Units), Boundary Bay, British Columbia, 1 Dec 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199209)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XIIs on the tarmac, RCAF (Serial No. 5378), coded W in the foreground, No. 133 'Falcon' (F) Squadron, based at Boundary Bay, British Columbia, 1 Dec 1942. Canadian Car & Foundry. Delivered to stored reserve with No. 4 Training Command. Issued to No. 133 (F) Squadron at Lethbridge, Alberta on 3 July 1942. Still with this unit when it transferred to Western Air Command and moved to Boundary Bay, BC on 26 October 1942. Coded "FN*W". To storage with No. 3 Training Command on 5 July 1944. Available for disposal with No. 1 Air Command from 17 September 1945, at Brantford, Ontario. Had 478:00 airframe time on that date. Stored at Dunnville, Ontario when struck off.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199197)

Hawker Hurricanes on the tarmac, No. 135 Squadron, Boundary Bay, British Columbia, 1 July 1943. The Hurricane Mk. XII in the forefront appears to be 5407 which was taken on strength with the RCAF on 20 July, 1942. It went to No. 135 (F) Squadron at RCAF Station Mossbank, Saskatchewan, from the Canadian Car & Foundry (CCF) factory at Fort William, Ontario.. All the aircraft look like they just came off the assembly line. Check out the white inscription on the cowling of the third Hurricane in from the right. (Chris Charland)

Canadian Car & Foundry. 5407 was delivered to No. 4 Training Command for No. 135 (F) Squadron at Mossbank, Saskatchewan on 20 July 1942. Still with this unit when it transferred to Western Air Command, and moved to RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC on 1 October 1942. To stored reserve with No. 3 Training Command 4 August to 20 November 1944. Transferred from No. 3 TC to No. 1 Air Command on 15 January 1945. To stored reserve with Eastern Air Command on 27 June 1945. Available for disposal at Mount Pleasant, PEI from 27 November 1945, when it had 476:45 airframe time.

Canadians in the Battle of Britain, 1940

Many Canadians served in the fighter squadrons which repulsed the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940.  In fact, although the RAF only recognizes 83 Canadian pilots as flying on fighter operations during the Battle of Britain, the RCAF claims the actual figure was over 100, and that of those 23 who died and 30 more were killed later in the war.  Much of this confusion can be attributed to the fact that apart from RCAF members flying in RCAF units, there were those RCAF members who were in RAF units as well as Canadians who were members of the RAF, not the RCAF.  Another 200 Canadian pilots fought with RAF Bomber Command and RAF Coastal Command and during the period and approximately 2,000 Canadians served as ground crew.

Of these, 26 were in No. 1 Squadron, RCAF, flying Hawker Hurricanes.  The squadron arrived in Britain soon after Dunkirk with 27 officers and 314 ground staff.  This squadron would later be re-numbered as No. 401 (City of Westmount) Squadron, RCAF, in line with Article XV of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.  It was the only fighter unit from the Commonwealth air forces to see combat in the Battle of Britain.

No. 1 Squadron made an inauspicious start to its service with Fighter Command, when on 24 August 1940 two of its Hurricanes mistook a flight of Bristol Blenheims for Junkers Ju 88s, shooting one down with the loss of its crew; an example of what is now known as friendly fire.  No. 1 became the first RCAF unit to engage enemy aircraft in battle when it met a formation of German bombers over southern England on 26 August 1940, claiming three kills and four damaged, with the loss of one pilot and one aircraft.  By mid-October, the squadron had claimed 31 enemy aircraft destroyed and 43 probables or damaged for the loss of 16 aircraft and three pilots.

Other Canadians were spread across RAF squadrons, and on the second day of the Battle, 11 July, Canada suffered its first fighter casualty.  In a Luftwaffe attack on the Royal Navy Dockyard naval base at Portland Harbour, Pilot Officer D. A. Hewitt of Saint John, New Brunswick, flying a Hurricane with No. 501 Squadron, RAF, attacked a Dornier Do 17 bomber and was hit himself.  His aircraft plunged into the sea.  Another Canadian pilot, Richard Howley, died eight days later.

The dispersed Canadian airmen included one who flew with No. 303 (Polish) Squadron.  A total of 12 Canadian pilots in the Royal Air Force including Willie McKnight flew with No. 242 Squadron, RAF, at various times through the Battle.  On 30 August, under the command of Squadron Leader Douglas Bader, nine No. 242 Squadron aircraft met 100 enemy aircraft over Essex.  Attacking from above, the squadron claimed 12 victories for no loss.

(RuthAS Photo, Sep1971)

Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC (Serial No. LF363) wearing the LE code of No. 242 Squadron RAF.

Canadians also shared in repulsing the Luftwaffe's last major daylight attack. On 27 September No. 303 Squadron and No. 1 Squadron RCAF, attacked the first wave of enemy bombers. Seven aircraft were claimed destroyed, one probably destroyed and seven were damaged. (Wikipedia)

(IWM Photo, CH 83)

Pilots of No. 43 Squadron RAF based at Wick, Caithness, standing in front of one of the unit's Hawker Hurricane Mark Is. Left to right: Sgt. J Arbuthnot, Sgt. R. Plenderleith, Sgt. H.J.L. Hallowes, F/Lt. J.W.C. Simpson, S/Ldr. P.W. Townsend, P/O H.C. Upton.

The top Canadian scorer during the Battle was Flight Lieutenant H. C. Upton of No. 43 Squadron, RAF, who claimed 10.25 aircraft shot down. Hamilton Charles Upton, also known by the name Deryk, was born in Manchester on 13th March 1912 but was brought up in Vancouver, Canada. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in June 1939 and after completing his training he joined 43 Squadron on 8th February 1940.

On 12th July Upton shared in destroying a He111 and on 8th August he claimed two Ju 87s destroyed and probably another. Immediately after destroying the third Ju87, Upton's engine seized and he glided back to the Isle of Wight and made a forced-landing at Ford Farm, Whitwell. On 13th August Upton claimed a Do17 destroyed, on the 15th a Ju 88 and on the 16th three Ju87s. In this combat, his oil system was damaged by return fire and he made a crash-landing on Selsey Beach in Hurricane P3216.

Upton claimed a Ju 87 and a Bf 109 destroyed on 18th August and a Bf 110 on 4th September. He was posted to 607 Squadron at Tangmere on 24th September 1940 as a Flight Commander. In late 1940 Upton went to instruct at an OTU at Montrose. He later also instructed at 39 SFTS Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 29th April 1941), receiving the medal from King George VI. After some time in hospital he returned to operational duties as a Fighter Controller with 84 Group, Tactical Air Force following the invasion of France.

Upton suffered from injuries sustained in his crash-landings and was subject to headaches and blackouts. It was later discovered that he also had a fractured coccyx. Surgeries to remove the infected tailbone caused lifelong health problems. In 1945 Upton transferred to the RCAF, serving with it until 1953 and leaving with the Canadian Decoration. He began a career in radio with a new station, CFJB, in Brantford, Ontario. In 1955 Upton and his family moved to Truro, Nova Scotia where he worked as sales and advertising manager at CKCL for the rest of his life.

He died on 1st August 1965 of a brain aneurism, quite likely related to the head trauma he experienced during the Battle of Britain. Upton is buried in Robie Street Cemetery, Truro, Nova Scotia. (The Battle of Britain London Monument)

No. 242 Squadron, RAF, was an RAF squadron notable for having many pilots who were either RCAF personnel or Canadians serving in the RAF, to the extent that it was sometimes known, unofficially, as No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron.  It was also the first squadron to be commanded by Douglas Bader.

(DND Archives Photo, PMR78-327)

Sub-Lieutenant Gardaien [sic] (left) and Canadian Pilot Officer Noel Stansfeld with a Hawker Hurricane Mk. I at No. 242 “Canadian” Squadron, RAF Coltishall, England, in 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3644386)

Squadron Leader Douglas Bader DSO (front centre) with some of the Canadian pilots of his Squadron, No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron, grouped around his Hawker Hurricane at Duxford, England, Sep 1940. No. 242 Squadron pilots, P/O Denis Crowley-Milling[1], Canadian F/O Hugh Tamblyn[2], Canadian F/L Stan Turner[3], Sgt Joseph Earnest Saville on the wing, Canadian P/O Neil Campbell, P/O William Lidstone McKnight, S/L Douglas Bader[6], F/L George Eric Ball[7], P/O Michael Giles Homer[8], Canadian F/O Marvin Kitchener “Ben” Brown[9], 1940.

[1] Later Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling, KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC & Bar, AE (22 March 1919 – 1 December 1996).

[2] P/O Hugh Norman Donald Tamblyn, DFC, was born in Watrous, Saskatchewan in1917. He served with No. 141 Squadron flying Boulton Paul Defiants before being posted to No. 242 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain. He was Killed In Action on 3 Apr 1941. He was shot down into the sea by return fire from a Dornier Do 17 while on convoy duty east of Felixtowe, England. He radioed that his Hurricane was on fire. A search found his body unwounded.  He had died of exposure.  Hugh Tamblyn is buried in the Ipswich Cemetery, Suffolk, England.

[3] W/C Percival Stanley Turner, DSO, DFC & Bar (3 September 1913 – 23 July 1985) served with the RAF and the RCAF during the Second World War.  He holds the record of the most combat hours flown of any Canadian pilot.

[4] P/O Norman Neil Campbell was killed on 17 Oct 1940 when his Hawker Hurricane Mk. I Serial No. (V6575) crashed into the sea off Yarmouth, England.

[5] F/O W.M. McKnight, DFC, No. 242 Squadron RAF, was killed on 12 Jan 1940, when his Hawker Hurricane (Serial No. P2961) was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109. He was22.

[6] Group Captain Douglas R.S.Bader CBE, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre. Bader was a legend in his own lifetime for the courage and style with which he defied disablement. Bader had an academic ability which won him a scholarship to St Edward's School and a cadetship at the elite RAF College, Cranwell. Douglas Bader joined No 23 Squadron at Kenley in July 1930 to fly Gloster Gamecock fighters. Asked to give an aerobatic demonstration in a Gloster Bulldog by pilots at a flying club, he declined; whereupon someone made a comment he could not ignore and he took-off. Unfortunately the Bulldog's wingtip touched the ground during a low pass and it crashed. Bader lost both legs and was invalided out of the RAF. When war came his perseverance got him accepted back into the RAF for flying duties in Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I's in No. 19 Squadron at Duxford. In June 1940, Bader was given command of No 242 Squadron, a Canadian unit, and the only one in the RAF at the time. No. 242 had been badly mauled in France, and its morale was low. Bader quickly transformed No. 242 into a tight, tough squadron by his courage, leadership and uncompromising attitude toward his pilots, ground crews and the RAF high command, with whom he soon had a major brush. After taking charge of No. 242, Bader soon discovered that the unit did not have the spare parts or tools to keep its 18 Hurricane fighters operational. After trying to sort out the problem through official channels, Bader signaled 12th Group Headquarters: "242 Squadron operational as regards pilots but non-operational as regards equipment." He refused to announce his squadron as operational until its lack of tools and spares was rectified. It took a direct meeting between Squadron Leader Bader and Fighter Command's commander Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, to correct the mess. Within 24 hours, No 242 Squadron had all the tools and spares it needed, and Bader signaled 12th Group: "242 Squadron now fully operational." Early in 1941 he commanded the first Tangmere Wing and his tactics were then carried on by Fighter Command for some years. On 11 August he baled out of his Spitfire, leaving his 'tin' right leg in the aircraft, and became a prisoner of war for 3½ years, ending it in Colditz Castle after two attempted escapes. He retired from the RAF in July 1946 and rejoined Shell Oil, later being knighted. During only 15 months of operations his official score was 22½ enemy aircraft destroyed, although his personal tally was 30! His courage and determination in war and his work for the handicapped in peace inspired others until he passed away in 1983.

[7] George Eric Ball was born in 1919 in Tankerton, Kent. He was a candidate for a short service commission when he began his elementary flying training in April 1937. On 17 July he was posted to No. 7 FTS Peterborough and on completion of the course he joined No. 19 Squadron at Duxford on 19 Feb 1938. Over Dunkirk on 26 May 1940 Ball destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and was wounded himself. During the night of 18-19 June he shot down a Heinkel He 111 north of Colchester.  On 24 Jun 1940 Ball joined No. 242 Squadron at Coltishall as 'A' Flight Commander. On 30 Aug he claimed a Heinkel He 111 destroyed, shared another and damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 110. On 7 Sep he claimed a Bf 110 destroyed and a Bf 109 damaged. On 9 Sep, a Bf 109 destroyed, on 18 Sep a Junkers Ju 88 and on 27 Sep, a Bf 109 damaged. Ball was awarded the DFC (gazetted 1 Oct 1940) as an Acting Flight Lieutenant.  Posted from No. 242 on 29 Jan 1941, he joined No. 73 Squadron in the Western Desert as a Flight Commander. On 11 Apr 1941, very soon after his arrival, Ball flew into a sandstorm and was forced down and taken prisoner in Hawker Hurricane (Serial No. V7716).  After his release at the end of the war he married Renee Nina Gardner in Apr 1945 at Bridge, Kent. Ball was given command of No. 222 Squadron at Fairwood Common in Oct 1945. At the age of 27, he was killed in a flying accident on 1 Feb 1946 when his Gloster Meteor Mk. III (Serial No. EE448) failed to recover from a spiral dive during an aerobatic practice near Fairmile in Devon. He is buried in Exeter Higher Cemetery.

[8] Early in 1940, Flying Officer M.G. Homer was serving with No. 44 Squadron, flying Handley Page Hampdens from Waddington. On 12 Apr he was the pilot of an aircraft which carried out a high-level bombing attack on two enemy cruisers in Christiansand Bay. He pressed home his attack in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and attacks by enemy fighters, one of which his air gunner shot down.  He then flew his damaged aircraft safely back to base.  For this operation Homer was awarded the DFC (gazetted 26 Apr 1940).  In August he volunteered for Fighter Command and joined No. 1 Squadron at Northolt in early September1940.  On 7 Sep he damaged a Dornier Do 17.  Homer was posted to No. 242 Squadron at Coltishall on 21 Sep. He was shot down and killed on 27 Sep, when his Hawker Hurricane (Serial No. P2967) crashed in flames at Bluetown.  Homer was 21. He is buried in Godlingston Cemetery, Swanage.

[9] P/O Marvin K. Brown, No. 242 Squadron, came from Kincardine, Ontario. On 18 May 1940 in combat with Messerschmitt Bf 110’s of I/ZG76 near LeCateau, he was shot down in Hawker Hurricane (Serial No. N2320), coded LE-H and suffered bullet wounds in the right leg. He was evacuated to England and rejoined No. 242 on 13 Jul. He was killed in the crash of his Hawker Hurricane (Serial No. N2476), on 21 Feb 1941 at Grange Farm, Alderton, Suffolk. He was 25. He is buried in Ipswich Cemetery.

(IWM Photo, CH 1342)

Three decorated fighter pilots of No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron, RAF, standing outside the Officers' Mess at Duxford, Cambridgeshire.  They are (left to right): Pilot Officer W. L. McKnight, Acting Squadron Leader D.R.S. Bader (Commanding Officer), and Acting Flight Lieutenant G.E. Ball.  By the date this photograph was taken these pilots had, between them, shot down over thirty enemy aircraft.  c1940.

(IWM Photo, CH 1431)

Hawker Hurricanes of 242 (Canadian) Fighter Squadron led by Squadron Leader Douglas Bader DSO, DFC. Bader was one of the Royal Air Force's top fighter aces until he was shot down in 1941; he spent the remainder of the war in a German POW camp.

Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) squadrons normally had 12 aircraft each; when the squadron attacked, the planes split up into groups of three or four.

(IWM Photo, CH1321)

Pilot Officer William Lidstone "Willie" McKnight, a fighter pilot from Calgary, Canada, photographed during the Battle of Britain, when serving with No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, Sep 1940.   Between May and November 1940, McKnight achieved 16.5 victories in combats over France and England.  He was shot down and killed during a low level intruder sortie ('Rhubarb') over France, on 12 January 1941.

(IWM Photo CH 1376)

Flight-Lieutenant P.S. Turner of No. 242 Squadron RAF, rests on the tail elevator of his Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, after landing at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, (No. 242 Squadron was based at Coltishall, Norfolk at this time).  Turner, a Canadian citizen, was a successful fighter pilot over France and during the Battle of Britain in 1940, destroying ten enemy aircraft.

Canadians flying Hurricanes in RAF Squadrons

(IWM Photo CH 1670)

Howard Peter "Cowboy" Blatchford, DFC (25 February 1912 – 3 May 1943) achieved the first Canadian victory in the Second World War.  Blatchford was born in Edmonton, Alberta on 25 February 1912, and enlisted in the RAF in February 1936.  He was posted to No. 41 Squadron RAF in early 1937.  In April 1940 he was posted to No. 212 Squadron RAF, flying photo-reconnaissance operations.  In June he joined the Photographic Development Unit as a flight commander, later transferring to No. 17 Squadron RAF in September, flying Hawker Hurricanes.  He soon joined No. 257 Squadron RAF, under the command of Squadron Leader Robert Stanford Tuck.

In December 1940, Blatchford was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  His citation:

Flight Lieutenant Howard Peter BLATCHFORD (37715), No. 257 Squadron. In November, 1940, this officer was the leader of a squadron which destroyed eight and damaged a further five enemy aircraft in one day.  In the course of the combat he rammed and damaged a hostile fighter when his ammunition was expended, and then made two determined head-on feint attacks on enemy fighters, which drove them off.  He has shown magnificent leadership and outstanding courage.

Blatchford became commanding officer of No. 257 Squadron RAF in July 1941.  He was promoted to wing commander in September that year, becoming wing leader of the Digby Wing.  On 23 September 1941, John Gillespie Magee, the author of the famous flying poem "High Flight," arrived at Digby for his first operational posting, on RCAF 412 Squadron.   On October 12, 1941, Magee's squadron moved from the Digby aerodrome to the nearby RAF Wellingore, from which he was operating when he died.  Blatchford finished his tour of duty in April 1942, returning to operations in February 1943 as wing leader of the Coltishall Wing.

Leading the Coltishall Wing to escort bombers attacking a power station in Amsterdam, Blatchford was shot down and killed in action on 3 May 1943 by Obfw. Hans Ehlers (Officer) of II Gruppe, Jagdgeschwader 1.  His body was never found.  He is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede.

At the time of his death, Blatchford had claimed five aircraft shot down, three shared aircraft shot down, three "probables", four damaged and one shared damaged.

(IWM Photo, CH 8239)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIB  (Serial No. HV894), with Flight-Lieutenant J.R, Sterne, RCAF of No. 174 Squadron, RAF, standing, at Odiham, Hampshire, UK.  HV894 "Our John" was named after Wing Commander John Gillan, and paid for by a fund set up by his mother after he was reported missing in 1941.

(IWM Photo, C 465)

Canadians who served in the RAF in the opening days of the war may have been in this photo, showing pilots of No. 87 Squadron, RAF, racing to their Hawker Hurricane Mk. Is (early models with two-bladed propellers).  The unit was at Lille-Seclin in France ca Nov 1939.  This was a mock scramble for the benefit of the official photographer.

Both Spitfires and Hurricanes had wooden props while in France prior to Dunkirk, but these were quickly changed out to 3 bladed propellers (metal) while in Britain.  No. 87 Squadron arrived at Lille-Seclin from Merville, France, on the 5th of November. They immediately set up a detachment at Le Touquet.  They were certainly flying Hurricane Mk. Is with three-bladed props by March, 1940.  The squadron was re-equipped with the Hurricane Mk. IIC in June, 1941.

"Hurricanes were using the two pitch prop until the summer of 1940.  I don't know when the first constant speed props were introduced on the production line but there was a mad scramble with teams of DH propeller specialists traveling from airfield to airfield with truck loads of parts instructing the squadron fitters how to convert the 2 pitch props to constant speed. The DH crew would make the first conversion with the RAF fitters watching, then they would work together and then the RAF fitters would do a conversion with the DH men watching, if that went well the DH men left enough parts to convert the reaming aircraft and the DH men were back in the truck driving to the next airfield. Hundreds of planes were converted in a short period of time. Most, if not all, of the Hurricanes in France had two pitch propellers."  (Chris Charland)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4283438)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IV (Hurri-bomber), flown by these Canadian pilots in the Burma Theatre of War, 28 Feb 1945.  F/L F.H. Sproule and Warrant Officer H.E. Johnny Walker.  These two Canadian Hurri-bomber pilots were among the busiest men on the Burma front.  Frederick Howard Sproule was from Alberta.  He was later promoted to Squadron Leader and received the DFC in October, 1945.  Both he and Johnny Walker were pilots with the RAF's No. 42 (F) Squadron based at Onbauk, Burma, when the photo was taken.  Squadron Leader R. E. Stout was the commanding officer.  The Hurricane Mk. IV they are shown with here was flown by their squadron between October 1943 and June 1945.  They also flew the Hurricane Mk. IIc between April and June, 1945.  The squadron converted to the Republic (P-47) Thunderbolt Mk. II in July 1945.

The Hurricane Mk. IV had the "universal wing", able to mount different variations as needed, two x 250 or 500 lb bombs, two x 40 mm Vickers 'S' guns, drop tanks, or eight '60 pounder' RP-3 rockets.  Two .303-inch Browning machine-guns were fitted to aid aiming of the heavier armament.

(RAF Photo courtesy of the Shearwater Aviation Museum)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIC (Serial No. BD867), coded QO-Y, of No. 3 Squadron, RAF based at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, UK. No. 3 Squadron (Tertius Primus Erit) Hurricane IIc BD 867 QO-Y was shot down by flak and crashed into the sea nine miles south of Dieppe, France. FS SD Banks (RCAF) was killed, 19 Aug 1942.

(IWM Photo, COL 186)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIC (Serial No. BE500), coded 'LK-A' "United Provinces Cawnpore", being flown by Squadron Leader Dennis Smallwood, the Commanding Officer of No. 87 Squadron RAF based at Charmy Down, Somerset. BE500 subsequently served with No. 533 Squadron RAF and finally in the Far East.

RCAF Hurricane Squadrons overseas during the Second World War

The first RCAF squadron to fire its guns in anger, No. 1 Squadron (which later became 401 Squadron), flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain.  Two other RCAF squadrons, No. 402 and No. 417 Squadrons, flew the type in overseas operations, while a further ten squadrons operated the aircraft in Canada.

No. 401 Squadron, RCAF, Second World War logo.  During the Second World War it was a fighter squadron and is notable for having fought in the Battle of Britain.  Postwar, the squadron operated in Canada as an auxiliary squadron, reserve squadron and a helicopter and training squadron.  In 2015 it was reactivated as a Tactical Fighter Squadron.

No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron RCAF, was formed as a fighter unit at RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, on 21 Sep 1937, with Armstrong Whitworth Siskin aircraft.  The squadron was formed from the Fighter Flight of No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron.  In August 1938, the squadron moved to Calgary, Alberta, and was re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane fighters in February 1939.  It was mobilized at St-Hubert, Quebec, on 10 Sep 1939, and on 5 Nov 1939 it moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

The unit began as a permanent peacetime unit which, augmented by personnel from RCAF No. 115 Squadron (Auxiliary), arrived at its first base in the UK, Middle Wallop, on 21 June 1940.  It had brought its own Hurricanes from Canada, and as these were not fully up to UK standard, the squadron was non-operational until mid-August when it moved to RAF Northolt.  At the time the squadron comprised 27 officers (21 pilots) and 314 airmen.  To gain experience of Fighter Command operations, S/L E.A. McNab, Commanding Officer, flew on operations attached to No. 111 Squadron, and claimed a German Heinkel He 111 bomber destroyed on 11 Aug 1940.

No. 401 Squadron moved to Croydon in July 1940.   The squadron's début was inauspicious when two Bristol Blenheims of RAF Coastal Command were accidentally shot down on 24 August, and three crewmen killed.

On its second patrol on 26 Aug 1940 it met with 25–30 Dorniers and was credited with three destroyed and three damaged in the fight.  However, three of the squadron's aircraft were shot down and one pilot, F/O R.L. Edwards, was killed.  The squadron experienced a fairly high aircraft loss rate during the end of August and into September as the squadron battled against the German formations over south London.

On 21 September the squadron participated in the first attempt at a wing formation operation by the Northholt-based squadrons, with No. 229 Squadron, RAF, and No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, although no enemy aircraft were encountered.  By 27 September, although downing seven bombers, only six aircraft were operational by the end of the day.

On 11 October the depleted squadron was moved to RAF Preswick in Scotland and its operational activity was coastal patrol work over the Clyde approaches.

During the 53 days it participated in the battle the squadron claimed 30 enemy aircraft destroyed, probably destroyed eight, and damaged 35.  It flew 1,694 sorties (1,569 operational hours and 1,201 non-operational), lost three pilots killed, thirteen wounded, 17 aircraft FB/Cat.3 and 10 Cat. 2.  The most successful pilots were F/L Gordon McGregor (five kills), S/L E. A. McNab (four and one shared), F/O B. D. 'Dal' Russel (four and one shared), F/O J.W. Kerwin (three) and F/O A.D. Nesbit (three).  Three Distinguished Flying Crosses (DFC) were awarded.  On 2 Nov 1940 McGregor took over as CO from McNab.

In Feb 1941, the squadron moved south to RAF Digby.  It was here on 1 March that No 1 Squadron RCAF was renumbered to No. 401 Squadron.

The squadron had replaced its Hurricanes with Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IIs in Sep 1941, Mk .Vs in late 1941 and in July 1942 some of the first examples of the new Mk. IX.  Kostenuk, S.; Griffin, J.  RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968.  (Toronto, Ontario, Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Co. 1977)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203344)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No.  315), No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 6 Sep 1939.  This aircraft was flown by Flight Lieutenant Ernest A. McNab. Ex RAF L1878. Shipped to Vancouver, BC. Used by No. 1 (F) Squadron, at RCAF Station Sea Island, BC. With this unit to Calgary, Alberta 8 June 1939. Moved with squadron detachment to RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS, 5 November 1939. On the 5 Dec 1939, the a/c had a "B" Cat accident when the pilot became lost and ran low on fuel. A subsequent air lock in the fuel lines caused an engine failure necessitating a wheels and flaps up forced landing. To Canada Car & Foundry 12 January to 25 May 1940, for repairs. Had 69:00 airframe time when it arrived. Repairs cost $13,221.00. Used by Test & Development Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, dates unknown. Sent to UK with No. 1 (F) Squadron in 1940, coded "YO-M" while in the UK. Returned to RAF shortly after, but retained RCAF serial number. Operated by No. 6 (later No. 56) OTU, RAF, late 1940 / early 1941. Gear up landing at Sutton Bridge, UK on 7 November 1940. Later to No. 6 STT, became instructional airframe 3238M on 18 July 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4327127)

S/L E.A. "Ernie" McNab with nine of his Battle of Britain pilots, No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, 12 Sep 1940. (L to R) F/O W.P. Sprenger, F/O O.J. Peterson, F/L W.R. Pollock (Adjudant), F/O P.B. Pitcher, S/L E.A. McNab, F/O P.W. Lochnan, F/L E.M. Reyno, F/O E.W. Beardmore, F/O S.T. Blaiklock (Intelligence Officer) and F/O R.W. Norris.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No.4816403)

Pilots of  No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, including their CO S/L E.A. "Ernie" McNab, (kneeling 3rd from the left), during the Battle of Britain, 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4806147)

"B" Flight, #1 (F) Squadron, RCAF pilots, Left to right: F/O G.G. Hyde, F/O B.E. Christmas, F/L V.B. Corbett, F/O E.W. Beardmore, F/L E.M. Reyno, July-August 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3208141)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 315),  No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Rockcliffe, Ontario, 5 Sep 1939.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3574053)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 328), RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 26 Aug 1939. Hurricane 328 flew with No. 1 (F) Squadron. It had been destined for use in the United Kingdom with the squadron until it stalled and crashed while in a steep left hand slipping turn on the approach to RCAF Station Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on 20 Nov 1939. The aircraft sustained Cat A damage and was subsequently written off.

Ex RAF L2022. To No. 1 (F) Squadron, at RCAF Station St. Hubert, Quebec, on 8 September 1939. Moved with squadron detachment to RCAF Station Dartmouth, NS, 5 November 1939. Overseas with this unit shortly after. Used by Test & Development Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, dates unknown. Returned to RAF ownership but retained RCAF serial. Operated by No. 6, 56 and 63 OTUs, RAF. To No. 2 STT on 18 February 1941. Became instructional airframe 3183M on 18 July 1942.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3614996)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I (Serial No. V7288), coded YO-A, No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, with Squadron Leader Ernest A. McNab, CO, Northolt, England, 12 Sep 1940.  He also flew Hawker Hurricane (Serial No. P3069), coded YO-A.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203458)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, 1939.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3545933)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, 1939.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581404)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 328), RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 26 Aug 1939.

(RCAF Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 328), No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 26 Aug 1939.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3545871)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 315), No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron and North American Harvard Mk. I, (Serial No. 1330), 1939.

(DND Archives Photo, PL-145)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No.  315), No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 15 Feb 1940.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3203345)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, RCAF (Serial No. 315), No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 6 Sep 1939.  This aircraft was flown by F/Lt E.A. McNab.

(IWM Photo CH 1733)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, No. 1 Squadron, RCAF, pilots at Prestwick, Scotland, 30 Oct 1940.  Squadron Leader Ernest A. McNab, the Squadron Commanding Officer, stands fifth from the right, wearing a wedge cap.

The RCAF’s No 1 (Fighter) Squadron is the only Canadian squadron that took part in the Battle of Britain.  Transferred overseas in June 1940, the pilots went through intensive training to be up to the level of their RAF counterparts before being sent to the front.  In their Hurricanes, the pilots of No. 1 Squadron had their first encounter with the enemy on 23 August 1940, and took part in the action until 8 October 1940.  Three pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC): Squadron Leader E.A. McNab, Flight Lieutenant G.R. McGregor and Flight Officer B.D. Russel.

(IWM Photo CH 1566)

Flight-Lieutenant M.H. Brown and Pilot Officer Chatham of No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, standing by the nose of a Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, at Wittering, Huntingdonshire.  Mark Henry Brown was the first Canadian fighter pilot of the war to become an 'ace'.  When this photograph was taken, he had shot down at least 18 enemy aircraft over France and Great Britain, and in the following month, was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron.  One year later, flying from Malta, he was killed in a fighter sweep over Sicily.

(Library & Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN 3614988)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, at RAF Digby, England, 22 January 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3614997)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I, No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, being refueled, 6 Oct 1940.

(DND Archives Photo, PL-4484)

Pilots from No. 401 Squadron, RCAF, run to their Hurricane aircraft ca 1941.  Groundcrew are waiting to help the pilots put on their parachutes and get into the aircraft.  The Hurricanes could skim off the ground three minutes after an alarm was sounded.

(IWM Photo, CH2275)

Hawker Hurricanes of No. 401 Squadron, RCAF, at RAF Digby, England, 16 March 1941 (note the dog on the wing).

No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, was formed on 5 Oct 1932 as No. 12 Army Co-operation Squadron, a unit of the non-permanent active Air Force.  On 15 Nov 1937, No. 12 Army Cooperation Squadron was renumbered No. 112 Army Cooperation Squadron, flying a variety of aircraft types including the Avro 626 and the de Havilland Tiger Moth.

After the outbreak of war, No. 112 Squadron was sent to Ottawa in Feb 1940, and re-equipped with Westland Lysander that had been left behind when No. 110 Squadron was posted overseas.  The squadron was  sent to Europe on 30 June 1940 with the intention to have No. 112 Squadron become part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) but the decision was made that Army Co-operation squadrons were not needed in France, and the squadron was re-deployed to coastal defence duties in England.

On 11 Dec 1940, the squadron was re-designated No. 2 Squadron, RCAF, and was equipped with the Hawker Hurricane Mk. I. In March 1941, while stationed at RAF Digby, Lincolnshire, England, the squadron was renumbered as No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, to comply with Article XV and was re-equipped with the Hawker Hurricane Mk. II the following May, and then Hurricane Mk .IIBs in June.  With these aircraft, No. 402 Squadron began training to become the first "Hurribomber" unit, commencing operations in this role in Nov 1941, carrying pairs of 250 lb bombs beneath the wings.

In March 1942, the Squadron resumed its fighter role moving to RAF Colerne, where it converted to Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vbs.  The Squadron then took part in cross-channel Ramrod and Rodeo sorties from various bases, including RAF Kenley and RAF Redhill, until August when it received Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IXs, which it fought the Luftwaffe over Dieppe on 19 Aug 1942.

(IWM Photo, IWM 01)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIE (Serial No. BE485), coded AE-W, No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, during Operation Jubilee over Dieppe, France, Aug 1942.

(DND Archives Photo, PL-6897)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIE (Serial No. BE485), coded AE-W, No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, during Operation Jubilee over Dieppe, France, Aug 1942.  The Squadron was based at Warmwell, Dorset, often crossing the English Channel on intruder sorties into occupied France..  It carries 250 pound bombs slung under its wings.

(DND Archives Photo, PL-6898)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIE (Serial No. BE485), coded AE-W, No. 402 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, banking.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5010705)

Canadian fighter pilot, Sgt. G.D. Robertson, No. 402 Squadron RCAF after his first claim is painted on his Hawker Hurricane.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5010699)

Hawker Hurricane (Serial No. 5054), coded AE-Q, Sgt. K.B. Handley talking with Sgt. G.D. Robertson, No. 402 Squadron, RCAF.

(IWM Photo, HU69094)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIb (Serial No. P3021), coded AE-X, No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, based at RAF Digby, Lincolnshire, 1941.

(IWM Photo, CH4566)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIE (Serial No. BE485), coded AE-W, No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, based at Warmwell, Dorset, UK, in flight carrying two 250-lb GP bombs. The Mk. IIE version was fitted with a 'universal' wing, permitting a variety of armament and stores to be carried without the necessity of modifying control systems and electrical circuits.

(IWM Photo, CH3901)

A 12-gun Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIb "Hurribomber", No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, being re-armed at Manston, UK on 6 Nov 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PA-136720)

Groundcrew servicing a Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIB aircraft of No. 402 (City of Winnipeg) Squadron, RCAF, Fairwood Common, Wales, March 1942.

(RAF Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIE (Serial No. BE492) of No. 402 Squadron, RCAF. with 250 lb bombs.

(Luftwaffe Photo, courtesy of Michel Beeker)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIb (Serial No. Z3424), coded AE-H, No. 402 Squadron, RCAF, flown by Sgt David W. Jenkin, shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf 109, near St. Omer, France, 27 Aug 1941.

No. 417 Squadron, RCAF, was formed on 27 November 1941 at RAF Charmy Down in England, at the RCAF's 16th - seventh Fighter - Squadron formed overseas.  Known as the "City of Windsor" squadron, it was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and later Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IIA and Mk. IIB (Nov 41 -Feb 42), and Spitfire Mk. VB (Feb - Mar 42).  No. 417 Squadron fighters were coded AN from 1940-1946.  

It was initially deployed in Egypt in the spring of 1942, and followed the allied advance through the western desert.  Transferred to Port Tewfik, Gulf of Suez, June 1942 as part of Desert Air Force, it had no aircraft until September when they received Hurricane Mk. IICs and later Spitfire Mk. VBs and Mk. VCs in October, 1942.  It spent five months in the defence of the Suez Canal and the Nile Delta.  In April 1943 it became the only Canadian Squadron in the Desert Air Force and was to provide air defence and close support to the British Eighth Army through the closing stages of the Tunisian campaign, in the defence of the Suez Canal and the Nile Delta, and throughout the Sicilian and Italian campaigns.  

No. 417 Squadron was transfered to Triploi Libya, in February 1943, where it served with No. 244 Wing.  It was transfered to Ben Gardane, Tunisia, in March, 1943, and then moved to Mellaha and Goulvine.  It was transferred again, this time to Malta for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, in mid 1943.  It moved to Cassabile, south of Syracuse, Sicily in July, 1943, and then to Lentini West and Gerbini, where it was re-equipped with Spitfire Mk. VIIIs.  The squadron again moved, this time to Canne, Italy, in November 1943, where it provided aircover for the Battle of Ortona.  

The squadron was detached from the Desert Air Force in January 1944 and moved to Naples under US XIII Air Support Command to cover the bridgehead at Anzio.  It acquired a few Spitfire Mk.  IXs, then transferred to Venafro (near Monte Cassino), in April 1944.  The squadron was trained to drop 500 lb bombs from Spitfire Mk. VIIIs in June 1944 and begin operations as fighter-bombers.  This shift to the ground attack role contributed to a six-fold increase in the monthly casualty rate.  They moved to Littorio, Fabrica and Perugia (north of Rome) in July-August of 1944.  The squadron thenm moved to Loreto, south of Ancona, at the end of August 1944.  No. 417 Squadron was disbanded at Treviso, Italy on 30 June 1945.  

In the Middle East, No. 417 Squadron flew Hurricane Mk. IIB (Sep - Oct 42), Hurricane Mk. IIC (Sep 42- Jan 43), Spitfire Mk. VB and Mk. VC (Oct 42 - Sep 43), Spitfire Mk. VIII (Aug 43 -Apr 45), and Spitfire Mk. IXB (Apr - Jun 45)

Hawker Hurricanes preserved in Canada

(Author Photos)

Canadian Car & Foundry (Hawker) Hurricane Mk. XII (Serial No. 44013), RCAF (Serial No. 5418), No. 135 Squadron, Reynolds Aviation Museum, Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

(Canadian Forces Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII (Serial No. 5584), (520199), No. 163 (Fighter) Squadron, Canada Aviation and Space Museum collection.

(DND Archives Photo, PCN-3898)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII (Serial No. 5584), (520199),No. 163 (Fighter) Squadron, Canada Aviation and Space Museum collection.

(Author Photos)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. XII (Serial No. 5584).  Canada Air and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

(Kogo Photo)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. IV, RAF (Serial No. KZ231), JV-N,  No. 6 Squadron, RAF, Reg. No. CF-TPM, Vintage Wings of Canada, Gatineau, Quebec.

Catapult Aircraft Merchant (CAM) ships equipped with Hawker Sea Hurricanes

(RAF Photo)

On merchant ships equipped with catapults, Sea Hurricanes were often deployed as standard fighters, despite being nearly worn out. In a last-ditch effort, these aircraft would embark on one final flight, knowing there was no place to land. Instead, pilots would ditch their planes in the sea, hoping for a fortunate rescue. With the eventual arrival of escort carriers, this perilous practice was halted, providing a safer alternative for naval aviation operations.

(RAF Photo)

Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk. I, (Serial No. Z4936), coded 'KE-M, of the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit is lowered onto the training catapult at Speke, Liverpool, for a training launch. At the back of the catapult are some of the firing rockets used to power the launch cradle.

(RN Photo)

Catapult Aircraft Merchant (CAM) ships were equipped with a Hawker Sea Hurricane mounted on a catapult launcher.   They were used in convoys as an emergency stop-gap until sufficient escort carriers became available.  The CAM ships mounted a rocket-propelled railing that launched a single aircraft dubbed a "Hurricat" or "Catafighter" to destroy or drive away an attacking bomber.  Normally the Hurricane fighter would be lost when the pilot then bailed out or ditched in the ocean near the convoy.  CAM ships continued to carry their normal cargoes after conversion.  The concept was developed and tested by the five fighter catapult ships, commissioned as warships and commanded and crewed by the Royal Navy, but the CAM ships were merchant vessels, commanded and crewed by the Merchant Navy.  

When a CAM ship arrived at its destination, the pilot usually launched and landed at a nearby airfield to get in as much flight time as possible before his return trip.  Pilots were rotated out of CAM assignments after two round-trip voyages to avoid the deterioration of flying skills from the lack of flying time during the assignment.  CAM sailings were initially limited to North American convoys with aircraft maintenance performed by the RCAF at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

In total, there were nine combat launches.  Nine German aircraft were destroyed (four Condors, four Heinkels and a Junkers 88), one damaged and three chased away.  Eight Hurricanes were ditched and only one pilot was lost.

(RN Photo)

Catapult Aircraft Merchant (CAM) ship with a Hawker Sea Hurricane mounted on a catapult launcher.

CAM ships were Second World War-era British merchant ships used in convoys as an emergency stop-gap until sufficient escort carriers became available. CAM ship is an acronym for catapult aircraft merchant ship.  They were equipped with a rocket-propelled catapult launching a single Hawker Hurricane, dubbed a "Hurricat" or "Catafighter" to destroy or drive away an attacking bomber. Normally the Hurricane fighter would be lost when the pilot then bailed out or ditched in the ocean near the convoy. CAM ships continued to carry their normal cargoes after conversion.

The concept was developed and tested by the five fighter catapult ships, commissioned as warships and commanded and crewed by the Royal Navy – but the CAM ships were merchant vessels, commanded and crewed by the Merchant Navy.

The German Luftwaffe had Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor aircraft with a range of nearly 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi). After the Fall of France, these aircraft could operate from western France against British merchant ships in the Atlantic. Flying from Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport, Fw 200s of I/KG40 could reach the convoy lanes west of Britain while staying outside the range of British land-based fighters. The Royal Navy had no aircraft carriers available to provide close air cover for the convoys. The Fw 200s could shadow convoys, directing U-boat attacks on them, or drop bombs on convoy ships, without opposition and to deadly effect.

To counter this threat, the Admiralty developed the fighter catapult ship – a converted freighter, crewed by naval sailors, carrying a single Hawker Hurricane fighter. When an enemy bomber was sighted, the fighter would be launched into the air with rockets, and fly up to destroy or drive away the bomber. Being large and slow, the Fw 200 became a rather vulnerable target. After the combat, the fighter pilot would bail out or ditch in the ocean near the convoy, and be picked up if all went well.

The Admiralty had already experimented with this system. They ordered 50 rocket-propelled aircraft catapults to be fitted to merchant ships. The planes were Hurricane Mark Is, converted to Sea Hurricane Mk. IAs.

The pilots for these aircraft were drawn from the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF formed the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit (MSFU) on 5 May 1941 in RAF Speke by the River Mersey in Liverpool.[1] Wing Commander E.S. Moulton-Barrett commanded the unit providing training for volunteer pilots, fighter direction officers (FDOs), and airmen. After training, MSFU crews were posted to Liverpool, Glasgow, or Avonmouth where they assisted in loading their Hurricanes onto the catapults. Each team consisted of one pilot for Atlantic runs (or two pilots for voyages to Russia, Gibraltar, or the Mediterranean Sea), with one fitter, one rigger, one radio-telephone operator, one FDO, and a seaman torpedoman who worked on the catapult as an electrician. CAM ships (Sea Hurricanes) were quite useful on the Gibraltar/Africa run. Heading to the US quickly put the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor out of range.

MSFU crews signed ship's articles as civilian crew members under the authority of the civilian ship's master. The ship's chief engineer became responsible for the catapult, and the first mate acted as catapult duty officer (CDO), responsible for firing the catapult when directed. The single Hurricane fighter was launched only when enemy aircraft were sighted and agreement was reached using hand and flag signals between the pilot, CDO, and ship's master.

The first four or five ships were taken into Royal Navy service as "auxiliary fighter catapult ships", and later conversions were officially named CAMs and crewed by merchant sailors. The first CAM ship, Michael E, was sponsored by the Royal Navy while the RAF MSFUs were working up. After a trial launch off Belfast, Michael E sailed with convoy OB 327 on 28 May 1941. She was sunk by U-108 on 2 June. The first RAF trial CAM launch was from Empire Rainbow, at Greenock on the River Clyde on 31 May 1941; the Hurricane landed at Abbotsinch. Six CAM ships joined convoys in June 1941. When a CAM ship arrived at its destination, the pilot usually launched and landed at a nearby airfield to get in as much flight time as possible before his return trip. Pilots were rotated out of CAM assignments after two round-trip voyages to avoid the deterioration of flying skills from the lack of flying time during the assignment.

CAM sailings were initially limited to North American convoys with aircraft maintenance performed by the Royal Canadian Air Force at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. CAM ships sailed on Gibraltar and Freetown convoys beginning in September 1941, after an aircraft maintenance unit was established at the RAF base at North Front, Gibraltar. No CAM aircraft were provided during January and February 1942 after it proved impossible to maintain the catapult-mounted aircraft in flying order during the North Atlantic winter. CAM sailings resumed on 6 March 1942 on North Atlantic convoys and in April on the Arctic Russian convoys with an RAF aircraft maintenance unit in Archangelsk.

CAM shipsEight CAM ships were requisitioned from private owners, two of which were sunk:DaghestanDaltonhallEastern CityHelencrestKafiristanMichael E (sunk)NovelistPrimrose Hill (sunk).27 CAM ships were Ministry of War Transport owned Empire ships, ten of which were sunk:Empire Burton (sunk)Empire CliveEmpire DarwinEmpire DayEmpire Dell (sunk)Empire Eve (sunk)Empire FaithEmpire FlameEmpire FoamEmpire FranklinEmpire GaleEmpire HeathEmpire Hudson (sunk)Empire Lawrence (sunk)Empire MoonEmpire MornEmpire OceanEmpire Rainbow (sunk)Empire RayEmpire Rowan (sunk)Empire Shackleton (sunk)Empire SprayEmpire Spring (sunk)Empire StanleyEmpire SunEmpire TideEmpire Wave (sunk).

Take-off procedure. The trolley receiving bar was removed at dawn.The airmen started the aircraft and warmed up the engine at intervals.The pilot climbed into the aircraft when enemy aircraft were reported.The ship hoisted the international flag code F when the decision was made to launch. (CAM ships were usually stationed at the head of the outboard port column of a convoy so they could manoeuvre into the wind for launch.)An airman removed the pins, showed them to the pilot, and took them to the Catapult Duty Officer (CDO).The pilot applied 30 degree flaps and 1/3 right rudder.The CDO raised a blue flag above his head to inform the ship's master of his readiness to launch.The ship's master manoeuvred the ship into the wind and raised a blue flag above his head to authorise the launch. (The ship's master stood on the starboard bridge wing to avoid the catapult rocket blast which sometimes damaged the port side of the bridge.)The CDO waved his blue flag indicating he was ready to launch upon a signal from the pilot.The pilot opened full throttle, tightened the throttle friction nut, pressed his head back into the head-rest, pressed his right elbow tightly against his hip, and lowered his left hand as a signal to launch.The CDO counted to three, waited for the bow to rise from the trough of a swell, and moved the switch to fire the catapult rockets.

CAM combat launchesFor the combat launches from Royal Navy fighter catapult ships, see Fighter catapult ship § FCS combat launches.Date Ship/convoy Pilot Outcome1 Nov 1941 SS Empire Foam / HX 156 FO Varley Focke-Wulf Fw 200 chased off; pilot recovered by HMS Broke[1][4]26 Apr 1942 SS Empire Morn / QP 12 FO JB Kendal Blohm & Voss BV 138 chased off and Junkers Ju 88 shot down (Ju 88A-4 "4D+IT" of III./KG 30); Kendal died from injuries received while bailing out[1][4]26 May 1942 SS Empire Lawrence / PQ 16 PO Hay Two Heinkel He 111s shot down; Hurricane shot down, pilot wounded and recovered by HMS Volunteer[1][4]14 Jun 1942 SS Empire Moon / HG 84 PO Sanders Focke-Wulf Fw 200 chased off; pilot recovered by HMS Stork[1][4]18 Sep 1942 SS Empire Morn FO AH Burr Two Heinkel He 111s destroyed; pilot flew to the Russian Keg Ostrov (ru) aerodrome[1][4]1 Nov 1942 SS Empire Heath / HG 91 FO N Taylor Focke-Wulf Fw 200 shot down; pilot nearly drowned before recovery[1][4]28 Jul 1943 SS Empire Darwin / SL 133 FO JA Stewart Focke-Wulf Fw 200 destroyed; pilot recovered by HMS Leith[1][4]28 Jul 1943 MV Empire Tide / SL 133 FO PJR Flynn Focke-Wulf Fw 200 destroyed; pilot recovered by HMS Enchantress[1][4]In total, there were eight combat launches from CAM ships. Eight German aircraft were destroyed (three Fw 200 Condors, four Heinkel 111s and a Junkers 88), one damaged and three chased away. Eight Hurricanes were ditched and one pilot lost.Additionally, one Condor was destroyed in August 1941 by a Hurricane launched from a Royal Navy Fighter Catapult Ship. This was flown by Robert W. H. Everett.

As adequate numbers of escort carriers became available, CAM sailings on North American and Arctic Russian convoys were discontinued in August 1942. The aircraft maintenance unit was withdrawn from Archangelsk in September 1942. Catapults were removed from 10 of the 26 surviving CAM ships while the remaining 16 continued to sail with the Mediterranean and Freetown convoys. Headquarters RAF Fighter Command ordered all MSFUs to be disbanded commencing 8 June 1943. The combat launches from homeward bound convoy SL 133 were from the last two operational CAM ships to sail; the last MSFU was disbanded on 7 September 1943. Twelve of the 35 CAM ships had been sunk while sailing on 170 round trip voyages. Two more ships, Cape Clear and City of Johannesburg, were briefly fitted with dummy catapults and aircraft for deception purposes in late 1941.

Wikipedia) Barker, Ralph. HURRICATS : the incredible true story of britain's 'kamikaze' pilots of world war two.  (SILVERTAIL Books, 2019)Hague, Arnold. The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. (Naval Institute Press, 2000)Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A. The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd., 1990) Pauly, John; Truebe, Carl E.; Wilde, Doug & Wilterding, John H. "Question 14/48: Catapult Armed Merchant Ships". (Warship International, 2012). Wise, James E. Jr. "Catapult Off – Parachute Back". (United States Naval Institute Proceedings, 1974)

(No. 438 Squadron Photo via Francois Dutil)

Hawker Hurricane with a group of No. 438 Squadron pilots in Ayr, UK, 1943.

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Aircraft built by Canadian Car and Foundry:

Avro Anson Mk.II (341 built under licence plus 800 wings and 300 fuselages.)

Avro Anson Mk.V (300 built)

Beechcraft T-34A Mentor (125 built under license, 25 for RCAF and 100 for the United States Air Force)

Canadian Car and Foundry CBY-3 Loadmaster (one built)

Canadian Car and Foundry Harvard Mk.4/T-6J (555 built by CC&F post-war for RCAF and USAF for Military Defense Aid Pact)

Canadian Car and Foundry Maple Leaf Trainer I (Wallace project, one built)

Canadian Car and Foundry Maple Leaf Trainer II (one built and jigs and parts sold to Mexico where it became the Ares #2)

Canadian Car and Foundry (Curtiss) SBW Helldiver (835 built under license)

Gregor FDB-1 (one built)

Grumman G.23 Goblin I/Delfín (52 built under license, examples sold to Spanish Republican Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force)

Hawker Hurricane Mk. X, XI & XII (1,451 built under license)

North American Harvard Mk. IIB/AT-16 (1,798 built under license), 1,500 AT-16 paid for by the US, 1,200 Mk. IIB and 100 Mk. IIB TT paid for by Canada during the Second World War.

Noorduyn Norseman Mk. V (51 built after buying Noorduyn out)

Noorduyn Norseman Mk.VII (1 built after extensive Can Car redesign)