Angels One Five – Portuguese Hurricanes

Here is an image of the arrival of the Hurricanes at Tangmere.

I think the officers on the left, Tom Prickett and the Earl of Bandon have just had rather a good lunch in the Officers Mess with the Portugese liason officer….hic!

I assume he was the famous “abandoned Earl” mentioned by Jack Currie in one of his books?
Jim

Hi Septic,

Did a lot of research on Hurricane exports for my book, published by Periscopio/Squadron Signal. There’s only one way to do this type of research, go to the main source. Personal contacts is the answer; not easy but definitely rewarding. Unfortunately my main text in this book had to be edited due to space limitations, but if you’re interested in all serials, etc, send me a PM and will try to find time to go through the mass of material that I managed to compile on export Hurricanes.

Hurricane P2617

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/aircraft_histories/72-A-1404%20%20Hurricane%201%20P2617.pdf

“Used in the Battle of Britain period film `Angels One Five’, starring Jack Hawkins and John Gregson, alongside five borrowed Portuguese Air Force Hurricanes. Filmed at RAF Kenley. Taxied in a couple of scenes and may have actually flown – coded in No.56 Squadron markings as US-B/’P2619’.
(After the Battle 30 and photo in Combat Codes Flintham/Thomas 2003 Appendix F) or, less likely, possibly used in static studio ‘crash’ shots at Elstree.
Six airworthy Hurricanes used, also Science Museum Hurricane L1592.”

Airart,

Where did you come across the details of the Angels One Five Portuguese Hurricanes? When I was researching the film for an article that appeared in ‘Warbird Digest’ I tried to find out which specific aircraft had been involved with no luck, even Frank Mason the well known Hurricane historian couldn’t find any details of the Portuguese aircraft involved.

Many thanks for the info.

Septic.

Well, based on what airart says it looks as if Model Hobby got both the film and the year wrong!

From photo caption in the Polish magazine Model Hobby.

“Two aircraft that had previously flown with 309 Squadron went to portugal after WW2. These were LF699 and LF620, purchased in 1945 with 30 other Mk IIcs, all receiving Portuguese serials in the 600 range. These aircraft were subsequently used during the making of the film ‘Battle of Britain’ in 1969, when they were given Polish national markings again, together with ficticious (sic) codes.”

OK avion ancien, here goes.

The Portuguese Ministry of Defence, through Col. Santos Costa, issued an order on 4 August 1954 not to procure or produce any more spare parts for Spitfires and Hurricanes.

The last operational flight had been performed at Sintra on 5 June with Hurricane Mk.IIC serial no. 615. On 31 August Gen. Carlos Costa Macedo, Chief of Air Staff of the Air Force ordered the official retirement of all Hurricanes from service.

The Portuguese Air Force Museum have a Mk.IIc on display with the serial RV-J-591. This is possibly a replica.

The Hurri in the PAF Museum is indeed a replica, which was placed on display in the mid 90’s. All of the genuine Portugese Hurricanes were scrapped.

Thank you, Newforest and airart, for shedding light in my darkness. Until when did the Portuguese Air Force operate Hurricanes?

Here are some more details from an old feature of mine about Export Hurricanes:

During July 1951 a flight of five Hurricanes drawn from Esquadrilha ‘VX’ and ‘MP’ paid a goodwill visit to the UK where they donned temporary RAF markings to participate in the filming of ‘Hawks in the Sun’, also released under the name of ‘Angels One Five’.

544 VX-E flown by Lt Moura Pinto
554 VX-O flown by Sub Lt Brochado de Miranda
601 MP-S flown by Sub Lt Pereira Lemos
624 MP-B flown by Sub Lt Lobo Fernandes
600 MP-? flown Sub Lt Calado Orvalho

These were accompanied by Anson serialled 215 flown by Cdr Duarte Silva and Sub Lt Cruz Novo

Departed 15 July 1951 to Tangmere where they arrived three days later, having staged through Logrono and Bordeaux. Filming at Kenley took place between 20 and 27 July and the Hurricanes returned to their base on 17 August.

This site gives serial numbers and artists impressions as 643, 646, 591, 582 and 624.:)

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/79/11/0

The Portuguese Air Force Museum have a Mk.IIc on display with the serial RV-J-591. This is possibly a replica.

This site for decals would suggest serial numbers/registrations as 646, 534, 511 and 580.

http://flightdecs.ca/a_Capena%2048.htm

A drop of fine port with our oldest allies !

I wonder how many bottles of Croft ’48 you can get into a Hurricane? Has anyone who has tried care to comment?

Here is an image of the arrival of the Hurricanes at Tangmere.

I think the officers on the left, Tom Prickett and the Earl of Bandon have just had rather a good lunch in the Officers Mess with the Portugese liason officer….hic!

Nice pic Andy,he did have a reputation for enjoying a few bevvies 😀

Here is an image of the arrival of the Hurricanes at Tangmere.

I think the officers on the left, Tom Prickett and the Earl of Bandon have just had rather a good lunch in the Officers Mess with the Portugese liason officer….hic!