Hurricane I P3351, precision needed about its career

[Antoine]

Hi guys,

If everything goes right, I'll have the privilege to meet this old ladie next weekend.

Two days ago, I didn't even know that there was a flying Hurry based in France, but right now, I'd like to know more about its career.

If it's been a Spit I would have every paper documentation needed, but I'm not so well equiped with the Hurricane, and beside, I don't have my books handy.

I've started with the usual Google search, and after a good deal of contradictory informations, I came upon this:

Hurricane P3351 was built to contract 962371/38 by The Hawker Aircraft Co. Ltd. at Brooklands and was delivered to the RAF on 1st June 1940 to 73 Squadron who were based at Goye, France at the time and it was as a replacement for losses sustained during the Battle of France.

It was flown to various airfields in France over the coming weeks, on 3rd June 1940 it flew to a new base at Echemines then four days later with the unit to Raudin, on 15th June 1940 it was flown to Nantes from where the unit evacuated back to the UK, they officially took up residence at Church Fenton on 18th June 1940 but P3351 was part of 'A' Flight of 73 Squadron which was transferred to Prestwick on 19th July 1940 for night fighter training, two days later it was damaged when it undershot a landing at Prestwick at night causing the undercarriage to collapse and the aircraft to tip on it's nose.

Cat.M/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. On completion of the repair it was transferred to 32 Squadron at Acklington in September 1940 and on 16th December 1940 it moved with the squadron to Middle Wallop.

On 21st December 1940 it was transferred to 71 'Eagle' Squadron at Martlesham Heath, on 10th March 1941 it crashed on landing at Martlesham Heath after a patrol over the North Sea. Cat.A/FA damage was recorded the aircraft repaired on site, on completion of the repair it was transferred to 55 OTU at Usworth during the first week of May 1941.

On 13th May 1941 it flew into HT cables damaging a wing leading edge and the pilot Sgt Stanislaw Karubin PAF was forced to make an emergency landing at Ouston (Sgt Karubin would later be killed in a flying accident in the Lake District), as a result of this incident in May 1941 he was unhurt and the aircraft sustained Cat.A/FA damage and was again repaired on site with the aircraft being returned to the unit on completion of repair.

As a result of this incident near Headlingley on 9th September 1941 Cat.B/FA damage was recorded, it was dismantled and transported by road for repair in works and during this repair it was converted to a Mk.IIA and then given the serial DR393.

On 26th January 1942 it was taken by road to Glasgow Docks where it was packed and on 3rd May 1942 it sailed on S.S.Ocean Voice bound for Murmansk, Russia and is know to have served with the Russian Air Force in the Murmansk area where the aircraft crashed during the winter of 1943.

It appears to have been left in a crashed state where it remained for nearly fifty years until the wreck was recovered 1991 and purchased by Sir Tim Wallis of Wanaka, New Zealand, where it was registered as ZK-TPX.

Between 1992 and 2000 the aircraft was rebuilt under the control of Hawker Restorations Ltd. at Sudbury, UK and in late 1999 it was delivered to Christchurch, New Zealand for erection and the first post-rebuild flight which took place on 12th January 2000.

The aircraft was offered for sale a number of times being purchased by a French owner and shipped to France on 10th February 2013. On 30th March 2013 it arrived at Le Havre from where it went to Aero Restorations, Dijon for assembly and on 14th May 2013 it was registered F-AZXR on the French register.

As you can see, this is quite complete, but I'm wondering if anybody could add to this, with pilots names, claims, and so on?

Edited September 4, 2016 by Antoine

[Antoine]

Well?

[PhoenixII]

Hi Antoine,

suggest you have a read of this article http://hawkerrestorations.co.uk/_images/_articles/bonhams.html

HTH

Paul

[Antoine]

Hi Paul,

Thanks a lot, I think that from now on, the British side of the story is as much complete as it can be.

Even if I would have loved to know more about the BoB part, and if P3351 had some claims to its credit.

I'll try to gather more informations on the Russian side.

[PhoenixII]

Here ya go Antoine, few more 'bones' for you!

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/hurriregistry/hurricane-p3351.html

Paul

[Antoine]

Hi Paul,

Thanks again.

[k5054nz]

Also this: https://www.artybees.co.nz/brodie-ian/hurricane-mk-iia-alpine-fighter-collection

[Antoine]

Thanks a lot.

But I'm sad to say that the Hurry didn't make it to the meeting...

Reasons unknown to me so far.