Soviet Hurricane project resurfaces in Kent

Ex-Russian fighter to be restored at Rochester

**The frame of Hurricane IIb BH238 after arrival in the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society workshops at Rochester Airport.** ROBIN BROOKS/MAPS

It was announced on 2 December that Hawker Hurricane IIb BH238 had arrived at the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society workshops at Rochester Airport Kent, for restoration to static display condition.

Built by the Gloster Aircraft Company in its Brockworth factory near Gloucester during early 1942, BH238 was delivered initially to No 52 Maintenance Unit at Pengam Moors, Cardiff. One of the nearly 1,900 Hurricane IIbs supplied to the Soviet Union, it left the UK on 26 January that year, possibly making the journey as part of Arctic convoys PQ9 or PQ11. The fighter arrived in Murmansk that February, after which no details of its Soviet service are to hand.

**MAPS volunteers inspect the Hurricane fuselage.** ROBIN BROOKS/MAPS

The Hurricane’s remains were returned to the UK and transported to Sandown airport on the Isle of Wight circa 2000. They spent a period on display in the island’s now closed Frontline Aviation Museum, before going into storage. Now that the airframe has moved to Rochester, MAPS will restore BH238 prior to it going on static display at an as yet unknown location.