Septic
October 3, 2004 at 10:31 pm

Hurricane P2617 -Air Racer!

I found this photo the other day and was intrigued by the race number, I had heard that the aircraft was airworthy up to the mid 50’s and could have possibly flown during the filming of ‘Angels One Five’.

The photo appears to be taken at Horseguards Parade, I guess during a Battle of Britain week.

Does anyone know when and if P2617, went racing.

Their also appears to be dummy bullet hole marks on the fuselage, again possibly left from Angels One Five.

Septic.

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By: Mark12 - 4th October 2004 at 08:38

Might it be its number with 9FTS, the last unit it served with?

Flood

Flood,

I think you have it. I see that Oxford L4585 was ’11’ and Battle L4938 was ‘6’ when both were at 9 Flying Training School and its derivatives.

Mark

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By: Flood - 3rd October 2004 at 23:50

Might it be its number with 9FTS, the last unit it served with?

Flood

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By: Septic - 3rd October 2004 at 23:07

Thanks Mark 12, thats blown that theory out of the water, I was hoping it had been entered for the Kings cup or similar.

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By: DazDaMan - 3rd October 2004 at 23:02

Tough one, Septic, as I’m not sure how many ex-Portugese Hurricanes were used in the filming, although I’m sure PZ865 was one of the flyers involved.

Wasn’t this one a static job for Reach for the Sky? That was only made about a year later, if memory is up to speed.

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By: Mark12 - 3rd October 2004 at 23:00

Code or Race Number?

Septic,

I have a shot of Spitfire P9444 at Horseguard’s in 1949 and also a shot of K9942 in 1955 and you can see the Hurricane in the background with the ’14’ code. So it carried it for at least six years. I have not checked but this is more likely to to be a second line unit code rather than a race number I suspect.

Having just seen Angels One Five in full clarity a couple of weeks back, I suspect that the Spitfire(s) parked as set dressing are likely to be the above mentioned Spitfires or possibly X4590 and R6915.

Here is another shot of it at an unknown date, but not 1949 or 1955, as the Heinkel 111 is where the Spitfires would be on those years. I see a 109 in background also.

Mark