Hurricane Data Plate

Paul

Ah!

That makes MUCH more sense. I admit that I hadn’t checked the ‘back history’ of 323, but it is now clear why it had a Hawker build plate. Because it was one!

However, I’m afraid it is the only ‘Canadian’ plate I have access to – and clearly a red herring.

The fact that I couldn’t find one in the usual place on 5711 makes me wonder; were they in a totally different place? Or did they have something completely different??

My apologies to the OP….it appears my information was flawed.

I tried though!

Andy

That is interesting but I don’t think you will find it is a CCF built aircraft rather it was Brooklands Hurricane L1886 which was transferred to Canada in Feb 1940 and given RCAF Serial 323. It was initially with 1 Sqn RCAF and came to the UK when 1 Sqn RCAF transferred to UK in early 1940. However the aircraft retained it’s RCAF serial, and was still listed as “323” when it arrived at 615 Squadron.

It was shot down on 6 November 1940. Crashed near a rail way line at Noah’s Ark, near Sevenoaks in Kent. Pilot Sgt Jack Hammerton #745227 RAFVR was killed.

Paul

I am sorry this has taken a long time coming!

This plate was amongst items recovered from Hurricane 323 (CCF) lost in November 1940. The plate (obviously) is the centre one, aircraft number in bottom l/h box.

Interestingly, you will see they used a standard Hawker plate!

I have no idea if these were still being used on later CCF Hurricanes, and when I recently wrote the Bonhams catalogue for Hurricane 5711 (CCF) I took the opportunity to have a look for the data plate in that aircraft. It is a Hurricane I am quite familiar with, and my memory was that there was no extant plate. My memory proved accurate, and there was no plate in the usual place by the fuel tap on the port side of the cockpit and no evidence that it had ever been there! Not sure if they were located elsewhere on CCF Hurricanes? On Hawker/Gloster builds there was also a second plate like this one, but with the top clipped off, that was fixed to the woodwork of the dog kennel somewhere near the head armour. I can post an image of one of those – but not a CCF one.

Hope this helps? Pleased to be of assistance!

Any news on the picture of the CCF plate?

unfortunately not, wish I could go but I am being dumped in the Solent, bobbing around in an MS5 and then being winched out by the Coastguard!!
Bring me back something please?! I’ll chip in!

Will I see you in Kent tomorrow…? If so I’ll try to remember the photo.

will do Andy…PC rang me…..success on grip front!! Cheers

Tony – yes, e-mail me your address. PC will call you tomorrow I think. He’s slightly distracted with mother-in-law health issues at mo.

Did you manage to get the Stuka shot Andy please?

He still has the plate and is photographing it today. I hope to post an image later.

Not sure if the CCF plate is the same as the plate you have, though?

It is certainly different to the more familiar Hawker/Gloster plates though.

Thanks Andy 🙂

I will call him today….!

Any news on a CCF manufactures plate?

Remind me after this coming weekend.

I hope he still has it!

Thanks Andy. Looking forward to hearing more.

A pal here has one from a CCF built Hurricane, but he is away for a week.

I can ask him if you don’t get the answers in the meantime.

Andy

OK lets wait for Rocketter to arrive on this one but I would hazard a guess that its from wing sections or tail plane Mod Plate.
Modification Plate;
This makes it easy to identify if a part has had the latest modifications carried out, remove inspection panel and hey presto you can tell if this mod has been done or not, so this part had been modified to Drawing issue 159 this would have made the airframe fitters work a lot easier.

Sounds like tail plane me old pecker!! 🙂

OK lets wait for Rocketter to arrive on this one but I would hazard a guess that its from wing sections or tail plane Mod Plate.
Modification Plate;
This makes it easy to identify if a part has had the latest modifications carried out, remove inspection panel and hey presto you can tell if this mod has been done or not, so this part had been modified to Drawing issue 159 this would have made the airframe fitters work a lot easier.

It says :

MOD PLATE
HURRICANE
41H 125172

the last number on it is 159

So what/where guys and girls ?

Hi Old Eagle
Looks like a Mod Plate to me not a makers plalte,the Makers Plate has HAWKER AIRCRAFT Ltd on the top I must dig out a picture of one for you.