Fabric wing Hurricanes in the BoB

It’s not really what you were asking, but at least one later Hurricane at an OTU was fitted with a fabric wing. V6742, which the EAG recovered from a field at Finchingfield in September 1978, had wings dated 1937, despite having been delivered in 1940! I’m sure you know my source for that info!

Adrian

The Science Museum’s Hurricane would be your best starting point. In Len Deighton’s book ‘Fighter’ the Hurricane is mentioned, flown by Pilot Officer D.J. Looker on the 18th August 1940 who was not best pleased as his usual a/c was damaged and it had ‘fabric covered wings and a de Havilland two pitch propeller’. He and the rest of the formation were attacked by Bf109’s and he had to make an emergency landing at Croydon Airport.

Try searching for R4118 or UP-W on google or this site.

It is I believe the only flying Hurricane which participated in the BoB and is painted in the original 605 Sqn colours.

The Science Museum Hurricane is a good starting point. The same squadron must have had others.

Thanks for the feedback! So it seems that there were still a fair few fabric wing Hurricanes operating during this period. This is for a modelling project, and I’m trying to nail down a BoB colour scheme for an early Hurricane.

Regards;
Steve

Sgt Hallows..43 Sqd.Tangmere..1940…came down nr.Arundal…fabric wings on his Hurricane

I don’t know the numbers involved but they were certainly in action during the BoB. There is an account of Sgt Leslie Ralls stripping much of the fabric during a flat out dive in one of the 605 Sqn association books.