"Hurricanes over Russia" – does anyone know about this book?

Address? That’s why I posted the photo!

Drain coolant? Don’t know. Engines were shrouded with a heater below.

Tropical Filters? It’s all written somewhere but can’t think where right now.

Mickey? Not really – except when he tried to join up with a flight of Bf 109s!! There might be a lead in Griffith’s book? http://ww2airfronts.org/Theaters/eto/rinr/rinr-0.html

504? No – joined from 601.

ATOLL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED

64 GORE ROAD, WEST WIMBLEDON, LONDON, SW20 8JL

UK phone 020 8540 0700

Well worth the £11.99 I paid earlier this year.

From where may I purchase the DVD?

Googling “Atoll Productions” steers me towards copra production in the South Pacific….

Hi Cotteswold (=Tim),

I have been thinking of picking up a copy of the DVD “Hurricanes over Russia”- now that I know someone who starred in it I had better get my copy.

It interest me how some of the Hurricanes in Russia had tropical filters- guess it was to keep all that really gritty snow out of the engine????;) (We have lot’s of gritty snow in Winnipeg, though it’s due to all the salt and sand on the roads).

Do you recall if they had to drain the coolant from the Hurricanes when it was really cold? The Hurricane in the Finish Aviation Museum (HC452-N2394 Helsinki-Vantaa Finland) has been modified with a draincock on the bottom of the radiator which I believe was to help completely drain the coolant system and prevent cracks. Interesting.

I will look forward to seeing you in the DVD.

Regards,
Steven Smart.

Hi Tim,

I’m guessing that you must have known Mickey Rook, any little snippets or stories on him that you remember? Were you connected to 504 squadron before 151 wing?

cheers,

-John

Thanks, RV7 – for that link to Phil – looking happy as ever!

The DVD?? Oh, DO buy it – done on a shoe-string – mostly theirs – by Atoll Productions.

And, for good value, you can hear him, & me, doing our bit.

PS – that’s me on the cover!!

= Tim

Sorry HurriRV7,

it WAS ‘Hurricanes over Murmansk’ that I had, not ‘Hurricanes over Russia’, I was typeing without looking/thinking late at night! Sorry about that!:confused:

Here’s Mickey Rooks (90077) DFC group, DFC box, letter from H.M. King , campaign medals letter & box. The 1939-45 Star has the B of B bar. (The wings were not his). I wish I still had these, they cost $1200 OZ when I bought them! (A lot of money for me back then!).

The photo of him with his Spitfire came with the medals, the caption says: ‘Mickey Rook OC 43 Squadron Tunisia 1943’ (the Spitfire is MK VC JK101, FT-Z).

cheers,

-John
P.S. Sorry about the bad quality of the photo!

Hi Mondariz & Roger W, thanks for your suggestions. I do have a copy of Hurricanes over Murmansk which could be the book that was mentioned in the CAHS article?

Hi Flightpath, thanks for confirming that a book called “Hurricanes over Russia” exists. I have sent you a PM to see if you have additional info on the book. Thanks also for the interesting additional background.

I am always surprised that given the number of Hurricanes which were supplied to Russia how little appears in English literature on their exploits.

Regards,

Hi,

I know of this nice site about 134 Squadron in Russia……….

http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/articles/sheppard/hurricanes/index.htm

Many years ago (in Australia) I had a DFC medal group from Wing Commander Mickey Rook, younger brother of Squadron Leader Tony Rook of 504 and 134 Squadrons. (it was then that I bought ‘Hurricanes over Russia’, a very nice book!).

504 Sqdn. 1940. Mickey Rook is the tallest pilot in the back row.

Mickey Rook was with his brother (S/Ldr. Tony) in France in 1940 and during the Battle of Britain. He became a Wing Commander and his wing of spitfires were involved in the Tunisia landings. He was later involved in D-day and europe.
His DFC was awarded in 1943 for his leadership and skill with the Spitfire wing (I think it was dated 1943). Mickey was known as the tallest pilot in the RAF at the time. (I think his score in the B of B was four + two probables. He also had one victory in Russia and some in the Med.).

Mickey was killed after the war in a 504 Squadron Mosquito when an engine caught fire during a night take off.

cheers,

-John

Could be ‘Hurricanes over Murmansk’ by John Golley, published by PSL in 1987 and redone as an Airlife Classic paperback a few years back.

Keep an eye out for cotteswold (a forum member here), he was part of 134 SQ and most likely knows about the book.