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Hurricane MkIIb, Z5348, Mersa Matruth, Egypt 1942


Kaldrack

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Hurricane MkIIb, Z5348 is purported to be AX-M of No.1 Squadron, South African Air Force operating out of Landing Ground 92, Egypt in July 1942. Said to have been flown by Lt. Jerks Macle, SAAF.

 

Here we see it without the AX-M code:

 

1.jpg

 

Here we see presumably the same Hurricane loaded on an RAF recovery truck going by the general damage locations and appearence etc.

 

2.jpg

 

So was Z5348 really AX-M or was the above aircraft repaired to become AX-M?

 

Images from my own collection, enjoy...

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Definitely a camera fitting.  Z5348's history was 73/208/1 SAAF/208.  208 was a fighter-recce unit, so the photo could have been either before or after service with 1 SAAF.  It is an early Mk.II - see the Mk.I tailwheel - but with a later Rotol prop.  Note also the repainted cowling.  I suspect that the later roundel suggests this may be its final posting, but perhaps photos of 1 SAAF might indicate otherwise?

 

PS  Would the belly fairing have been fitted initially, then removed, then put back on?  I suspect not, backing the suggestion that this is after its service with the SAAF.

Edited by Graham Boak
Correction: it was a Mk.II.
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