diamant
March 5, 2009 at 6:33 pm

Hurricane Mk IIA Series 2 (Gloster built) BG766 – 250lb bombs?

Hello to all

I have found an interesting photo in the book “The Hawker Hurricane Enciclopedia” by Richard Frank (page 31). The reference of the photo read:
“Mk IIA Series 2 (Gloster built) BG766, seen here in a publicity shot taken on Malta is armed with two 250 lb bombs for an offensive sweep over Sicily”.

I look the BG766 in the book “Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945” and reads: Hurricane Mk IIB, Loaned FRU Malta, Hal Far/Ta Kali 6.43 – 9.43; 728 Sqn Ta Kali 1.44 – 3.44
The 728 Sqn reformed on 14 August 1943 to become the resident Fleet Requirements Unit in Malta, so it seems reasonable to assume that BG766 operated with the Royal Navy in Malta from June 1943.
The Apendix III (page 297) of the book Hurricane over Malta (june 1940-April 1942) by Brian Cull reads: Operational Hurricanes mid-1942/3:………….. BG766 (to Admiralty 1/7/43)……”
The thing is that I am not sure that they were 250lb bombs or 100lb (practice) bombs.

I will really appreciate any comments on this aircraft.

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards
Santiago

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

221

Send private message

By: StevSmar - 9th March 2009 at 23:31

Knew I had a pin-sharp print in my archives,

Thanks for posting the interesting photo.

Regards,

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

Send private message

By: diamant - 7th March 2009 at 17:37

Many thanks Richard.

Your excelent picture shows that I was wrong. 🙂

All the best
Santiago

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

2,768

Send private message

By: Mark V - 7th March 2009 at 08:50

Knew I had a pin-sharp print in my archives, took some time to trace it.

You should be able to see the details better.

Richard J. Caruana

Brilliant! Confirms its a 250LB GP.

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

140

Send private message

By: airart - 7th March 2009 at 06:18

Knew I had a pin-sharp print in my archives, took some time to trace it.

You should be able to see the details better.

Richard J. Caruana

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

2,768

Send private message

By: Mark V - 6th March 2009 at 21:26

Many thanks Mark V

So you think they weren’t 100lb bombs?

I never saw an early type of 250 lb bomb. Any idea about the camo of this Hurricane?

Cheers
Santiago

Pretty sure they are not 100Lb – too large for that and they have the standard tail unit to suit the GP 250. I will give the scheme some thought…..

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

Send private message

By: diamant - 6th March 2009 at 18:25

Many thanks Mark V

So you think they weren’t 100lb bombs?

I never saw an early type of 250 lb bomb. Any idea about the camo of this Hurricane?

Cheers
Santiago

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

2,768

Send private message

By: Mark V - 6th March 2009 at 16:08

Having looked at the clearer picture on the other forum I think it actually is an early war type 250LB GP bomb. One member posted diagrams of the HE 250LB but thats different from the bomb fitted to the Hurricane in the photo (note the strut extensions forward of the circular tail fin).

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

Send private message

By: diamant - 6th March 2009 at 15:35

Many thanks for looking and answred my post.
I have made the same question here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28230

and another person post a much better quality photo.

Does someone know more about this Hurricane?

Many thanks in advance

Kind regards
Santiago

Member for:

19 years 1 month

Posts:

2,768

Send private message

By: Mark V - 5th March 2009 at 20:59

Compare with this modern picture of the Hangar 11 machine supporting exact 250LB replicas http://www.hangar11.co.uk/gallery.php?page=1&id=8 The pylons are fairly substantial and clealry the streamlined fairings have been removed in the period shot above, but the bomb does not look quite big enough or project far enough forward to be a 250LB.