I was talking to an old friend of mine last night about his service on HMS Furious during WWII.
He recalls a take-off crash of an RAF Hurricane that was being flown off to Malta (or possibly North Africa). Six aircraft had been ranged at the stern as the carrier was turned into wind. All were carrying a 44 gallon long-range fuel tank under each wing.
The first pilot to take-off (possibly the squadron CO) apparently retracted his undercarriage too early. The aircraft crashed back onto the deck and then skidded overboard. Spilled petrol from the under-wing tanks caused a large fire in which several of the crew lost their lives.
The pilot was rescued from his ditched Hurricane more-or-less unharmed and the remaining Hurricanes took-off without further incident.
Can anybody add more details about this incident such as a possible date or the pilot or squadron involved?
WA$.
By: Gretza - 26th December 2006 at 13:34
I found another fact which can match the story described by your friend. Hawker Hurricane BV164 ex-V7302 delivered by Overseas Airceafr Delivery Unit Hit bridge on take-off from HMS Furious on 30.6.41. More details would be welcome.
By: Creaking Door - 21st December 2006 at 00:29
Thanks for your response.
Unfortunately in a further conversation my friend states that this accident took place in the Mediterranean (although he did take part in transporting RAF Hurricanes to west Africa aboard HMS Furious).
Apparently HMS Furious was fitted with two small ‘bridges’, one starboard, that was used by the captain, and one port, that was used by the embarked squadrons.
Apparently during this incident those killed were ‘pilots’ who were in the port bridge.
WA$.
By: Gretza - 13th December 2006 at 12:37
RAF Station Takoradi ORB under date of 8 January 1941 qoute:
HMS Furious arrived off the coast and “Monsoon” operation – 40 Hurricanes and 9 Fulmar aircraft – to be flown off and landed at Takoradi and then proceed to Middle East in accordance with Air Ministry signal X.43 dated 19th December 1940., commenced. The first aircraft to fly off the carrier were a formation of Skuas which were to land at Takoradi and then carrry out anti-submarine patrols while ”Monsoon” aircraft were being flown off. One Skua crashed on landing at Takoradi and was damaged beyond repair at this unit. Instructions have since been received for its return to the united Kingdom. The pilot and crew were slightly injured and were taken to hospital but not detained. At the close of the day 9 Fulmar and 12 Hurricane aircraft had beeen flown off the carrier. The operation of flying off was continued on the following two days when 18 and 9 Hurricane aircraft were succesfully landed at Takoradi making a total of 39 Hurricanes and 9 Fulmars flown off. Each Hurricane was flown off with six of the eight machine guns fitted, the remainig two guns per aircraft being landed from one of the escorting destroyers for onward despatch to Middle East by transport aircraft. The last Hurricane to leave the carrier crashed during the take-off and the airframe was returned to Freetown on board the carrier HMS Furious and her accompanying escort vessels left the vicinity on the morning of the 11th on conclusion of the operation.
This unlucky Hurricane was probably V7721 or V7723. Unfortunately I did not find the name of the pilot yet.
Additional information, as well as some photographs of the Hurricanes on board you can find in the book “Malta – the Hurricane years” p. 106-108.
I am very interested in in some words writen by your old friend about this operation.
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December 12, 2006 at 12:01 pm