I have come across this old photo of Hurricane L1571, in the collection of the late fighter pilot Bill Kain.
Does anyone know anything about this aircraft? It seems to have pre-WWII markings (Bill was a kiwi in the RAF from 1935-1945).
Has it had a marking removd from the tail – that is what it looks like. Perhaps a squadron emblem? In the original print it looked the shape of skull and crossbones and I wasn’t th only person to think that, but when scanned, not so much.
I believe HV was the code for No. 73 Squadron, which Bill was Flight Commander of prewar and in France.
By: antoni - 27th February 2013 at 14:11
HV are 73 Squadron’s prewar codes, changed to TP Sept 1939.
Your photo has a strong resemblance to a photograph of a 73 Hurricane coded HV*Z (cannot discern the serial number) that was published in Model Aircraft Monthly May 2006. Dated mid 1939. No squadron badge. Perhaps L1571 had 3 squadron’s badge that was painted over? It also seems to have traces of the roundels being modified, in particular the yellow outer ring painted over.
By: Malcolm McKay - 27th February 2013 at 10:15
73 Squadron’s emblem was a heraldic dog with one paw upraised. This was to signify the dog of the squadron’s one time WW1 commander Major Hubbard. To wit Old Mother Hubbard’s dog who went to the cupboard. The Herald’s Office translated this into a squadron badge which had a “demi-talbot rampant” which is a posh name for a greyhoundish looking dish licker. So basically a skull and crossbones is out – however pre-war squadrons had their badge on the tail in a small arrow head shaped white flash so perhaps that is some sheen of freshly applied dope which covered it.
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th February 2013 at 09:50
Sorry…I hadn’t properly read your initial post where you quote the number.
I had been squinting at the image trying to work it out.
Doh!
It is shown as: 3 Sqn, 73 Sqn, 5 OTU, 5 FTS, 55 OTU and 41 OTU then SOC 6/7/1944.
By: Dave Homewood - 27th February 2013 at 09:13
Yes, you can see it clearly when blown up (and even on the original which is unusual as they usually hav some number obscured or too dark).
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th February 2013 at 06:55
Is the serial L1571?
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February 27, 2013 at 1:22 am