Sea Hurricane MK Ibs on Escort Carriers

[detail is everything]

I‘ve always assumed Mk. Is were to be found on fleet carriers as fleet fighters of the day and Mk. IIs were later found on escort carriers (having not made it to fleet carriers before more capable types replaced Sea Hurricanes). 

However, I’ve been looking at RN escort carrier air groups and found out that some Mk. Is did briefly operate from some escort carriers before they were replaced by Mk.IIs or Martlets.

 

Whilst there are some well-known front line squadron photographs of Mk.Is on fleet carriers (Indomitable and Victorious) around the time of the Malta convoys in July/August 1942, and of Mk.IIs on escort carriers (Striker and Nairana) in 1944,

 

In investigating photographic references on the web, I found the following photo of a Mk. I said to be AF953 on HMS Avenger in June 1942. It is a lovely photo which I thought I'd share.

 

 

From my references, I make the following observations;

 

• I’ve looked carefully at the serial number and it definitely says AF953. It is not in the standard font as used for the ‘ROYAL NAVY’ legend, but in a different font something like STENCIL font (AF953) which I’ve also seen used on the odd Seafire and Swordfish.
• It seems that the aircraft has had a re-spray and part of the original colour has been left behind part of the ROYAL NAVY legend and serial number. Until recently I assumed this was S.1.E scheme Sky Grey but other topics have discussed Sea Hurricanes in early high demarcation camouflage schemes. It is commonly believed that some were originally delivered in the S.1.E scheme with high demarcation and Sky Grey side and undersides. However Sky Grey was officially replaced by Sky Type “S” in September 1940, well before the Hurricane appeared in the FAA., but although this apparently took some time to filter through to operational units, there seems no reason to suspect any other colour on aircraft delivered to the FAA after this date. Also this aircraft is hooked, whilst the Sea Hurricanes in early high demarcation camouflage schemes seem not to have been.    
• Interesting that the background colour is seen behind only part of the legend and serial number, as if they had been previously  applied differently, or perhaps the background colour was in the process of being carefully painted over, after the more general re-spray. 

• The aircraft identifier letter is black (roundel confirms not yellow or blue).
• There also appears to be some patching up with patches of darker colour (red oxide dope or fresh application of TSS colours
• Unfortunately, Air Britain’s book on FAA Aircraft 1939-45, doesn’t give any squadron history for this particular airframe.
• This photo can be found on the ‘World War Photos’ web site (http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/uk/raf/hurricane/).  The caption ‘Sea Hurricane AF953 on the flight deck of HMS Avenger June 1942’ seems quite detailed and smacks of a note on the back of the photo or in a photo album.
• HMS Avenger was not used as a deck landing Training carrier, so any Mk.Is would have been on her deck for work up or operational purposes
• However HMS Avenger was delivered in May 1942 and delivery modification work to the flight deck, communications equipment and armament wasn’t completed until July 1942. 802 NAS did visit the ship with Sea Hurricane Mk.Ibs on 13-15^th July as part of her pre-operational work up.  883 NAS  joined the ship on 16^th July and 802 NAS joined the ship on 22^nd July, both with Sea Hurricane Mk.Ibs as part of her air group (along with 825 NAS and its Swordfish IIs) for trade protection work. So, is the date wrong or is the ship wrong?

 

Any comments on my observations and queries would be welcome

 

 

Simon

Edited April 7, 2017 by detail is everything

[mhaselden]

Could the lighter colour background to the serial number and Royal Navy title be a fuselage band that has been overpainted (lazy Tars not taking the time to mask the letters properly)?  Dunno enough about FAA markings to know if this is even a reasonable hypothesis.

[Jure Miljevic]

Hello

Very interesting photo, Simon, thank you. Yes, it seems that this fighter had her fuselage band overpainted, and the patch in dark, apparently fresh colour above the serial also suggest so. However, there are plenty other much more interesting things about this Hurricane. I am browsing through my Hurricane books at the moment and although I doubt this will yield much new information. Nevertheless, it is a learning experience. Cheers

Jure

[ClaudioN]

Great find Simon!

...and very good idea Mark about the fuselage band.

 

The photo is now also accessible at the IWM web site:

 

There it is dated June 27th, 1942. It is part of a collection including shots from a visit by the C-in-C, Home Fleet and some deck-landing practice, so it must be close to the carrier commissioning. Photos immediately following the sequence of HMS Avenger pictures refer to a new destroyer trials on July 31st, so it might be a case of mis-dating, with July 27th being the actual date.

 

Very good eyes, Simon, in noting the colour differences and I believe Mark has found a very likely explanation, particularly if one compares AF953 above with AE977 'S' in the picture below:

 

The positioning of the 'ROYAL NAVY' titles and of the serial number over the Sky band are almost exactly the same as in AF953, which suggests overpaining of the Sky identification band before embarkation.

By the way, both AE977 and AF953 are Canadian-built Hurricane Mk. Is.

 

Claudio

Edited April 7, 2017 by ClaudioN

[Graham Boak]

What seems to be a yellow leading edge is also indicative of a home-based fighter.  The dark (black?) code letter would tend to imply a training unit, but that's not entirely reliable an indicator.

[detail is everything]

Thanks all.  Mystery solved.

 

I also note AF953 has an exhaust glare shield, So some night flying was intended?

[Graham Boak]

Perhaps but not necessarily: fitting appears to have been almost random.