Form 765c / AIR81 files related to Hawker Hurricanes

[Jagan]

Took the liberty of checking Air Britain.. Second Column are my comments.

BN209	6 IAF SOC 12.44	Was recorded flying with No.1 Squadron at Imphal in March/April 1944
BG675	258/20/2 IAF/ 1 AGS(I) SOC 19.12.44	See below note from 1 AGS ORB
BN225	607 SOC 1.7.42 as DBR on ops. NFD	No details
BN314	FE SOC 30.11.43	No details
BE676	6/1 AGS(I) SOC 14.10.44	See below note from 1 AGS ORB
BH114 ??	Does not exist.	None of the alternate serials seem to match BE114, BN114, BP114, BX114 did not seem to have come to SEAC

1 AGS ORB:
5.10.43 Hurricane BG675 and BE676 alloted to 1 AGS No.4539
29.10.43 - U/S Hurricane BG675 sent to INDORE for erection at Services Exhibition
5.11.43 - Hurricanes 2B BE675 and BG676 despatched by rail to 320 MU (To Karachi).

-------------------------------------------------------------


So two of the aircraft BG675 and BE676 did not fly much till end of 1943 .. at least one of them BN209 is recorded with No.1 Squadron in Feb/March 1944.. That leaves out BN225 and BN314 to be researched. maybe they flew again

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Jagan,

The F1180 clerk has scored out 144 and added 114 to BH.

BH144 is a valid serial that served with No.6 IAF so would suggest that the period change to the F1180 was incorrect and BH144 is most probably the correct aircraft (AB Serials states crashed near Biaora, 2/3/43 DBF)

Ross

[Jagan]

While we are at it, some raw metrics based on the data i have on IIbs

Total number 317 accidents/losses in India/Burma .. not all are write offs, some could be Cat Bs as we discussed before.

IAF : 80
RAF : 237


RAF IIbs lost in 1944 - 14, 1945 -1 (Pretty much all of them by Ferry Unit, or Rear Echelon Units)
IAF IIbs lost in 1944 - 46 , 1945 -2



Other types... -
Hurricane IIc - 659
Hurricane IId - 62
Hurricane IV - 69
Unknown Variant - 91


And all Hurri losses by year in India/Burma/Ceylon (not counting far east)

1941	4
1942	190
1943	355
1944	477
1945	264
1946	5

[Ross_McNeill]

Hi Jagan,

Now had sight of the AM78 for BN225 can confirm no entry for 607 Sqn or any other unit, soc (FB) (sic) date 1/7/43 no further details.

Ross

[paulmcmillan]

So

"Air Britain BA-BZ Serials book lists BN225 as serving with 607 Sqn, and SOC on 1st July 1942, not many days after the above incident and that it was "DBR during operations - no further details"

Is wrong no 607 Sqn Service and SOC 1st July 1943 - which could indicate that she was accessed later after the 6 March 1943 incident and not worth repairing (and sent for display/ instruction) or she was involved in another incident later and SOC

[Ross_McNeill]

All I can say is what is in the AM78 and what was published in BA-BZ. Where between these points info has appeared/disappeared is any ones guess.

It was a checking process I did for Coastal Losses - F1180s, AB Serials, ORBs, then AM78 if something was flagged. Now TNA Discovery and Air 81 is in the mix as well

As part of agreement requested by Hendon I'm not sharing the full details to third parties - their ball, their rules to play.
AM78 is sparse - no engine serial recorded on delivery - XXMU date in 1941
Odiham early date in 1942
Karachi arrival date in Feb42 on XX ship
then SOC detail 1943

However the F1180s show service with No.4 Sqn and No.6 IAF on particular dates confirmed in part by ORBs
ORB for No.607 shows serial against operations in single month.

Between Cat B with No.6 IAF and SOC date not listed in ORB as further accident (also unit not flying operationally so no chance there for F(B) only F(A) and from end May unit on move)

No additional F1180 between Cat B and SOC date filed for BN225 in any unit.

On balance I would go with F(B) SOC as the F(A) on 2/3/43 and no repair.

Ross

[Jagan]

I have put all the findings out of this thread on this page at my warbirdsofindia website http://www.warbirds.in/news/442-mora...dentified.html

Again, Ross, Thank you - this wouldn't have been possible without your diligence and taking on this challenge!.

[paulmcmillan]

Sgt Frederick (Fred) McClure #402555 - Later W/O

BIRTH 15 JAN 1921 • Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand

DEATH 23 APR 1987 • Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand

[AndrewClark]

At the risk of hijacking this thread, does anyone have a copy of AIR 81/9370 they could send me please? TIA Andrew

[Alex Smart]

Hi Andrew,
From this forum's Air81 database.

Citation Aircraft Description Link
AIR81/9370 Hurricane I Z7092 Sergeant J Allen: injured; aircraft accident at Calwell, Hexham, Northumberland, Hurricane Z7092, 232 Squadron, 30 September 1941. C16997617

Alex