I came across this shot this evening whilst looking for the Canadian Swordfish.
It took me back to the posts earlier this year when the new codes to be worn by the Historic Aircraft Collection Hurricane were yet to be revealed.
The HA-C codes were considered contrived by some, despite speculation that HA-C could have possibly been worn by a 126 Squadron Hurricane in Malta and the forthcoming ‘Merlins over Malta’ connection this next year.
Well speculate no more, here is a shot of the genuine article. I see I have written on the back of this shot “Malta Lardner-Burke”. I copied this from the album of Henry ‘Pat’ Lardner-Burke some years ago. That is he of the MH434 kills connection with 222 Squadron and his personal Spitfire ML119, when OC 1 Squadron, recovered to the UK from Burma in recent times.
Mark
By: Mark12 - 1st October 2004 at 12:53
Henry ‘Pat’ Lardner-Burke
A quick delve in to ‘Aces High’ tells us the full story I believe.
“… it formed the nucleus of 126 Squadron. The last of these, on 8 November 1941, was one of the new Macchi C202 fighters, believed to be that flown by the leader of the Italian formation, Capitano Mario Pluda. However another of the Macchi pilots attacked him from behind at close range and a 12.7mm bullet penetrated the armour plate behind his seat and passed through his chest, puncturing a lung. Despite this serious wound he was able to fly back to Malta and land successfully… “
8 November 1941….MC202…..Hurricane II BD789….near Dingli….126 Sqn.
As the photo is from ”Pat’ Lardner-Burke’s personal album and shows the head armour damage I think we can say with reasonable certainty that the Hurricane in the photo is BD789
Mark
By: Flood - 29th September 2004 at 21:47
For the sake of realism I hope they do not go tearing holes in the bodywork…;)
Flood
By: Mark12 - 29th September 2004 at 21:31
B…. something!
On the copy negative the print ends dead, part way across a vertical on the second serial digit, so BD, BE, BH, BM, BN or BP.
I note Hurricane BD791 served with 126 Squadron on Malta.
Mark
By: Dez - 29th September 2004 at 21:13
Nice work Mark12! 😉
By: Mark12 - 29th September 2004 at 21:00
Thanks Mark!
I’ll be in contact about the photo!
Glenn
Glenn,
I have sent a high res to Guy.
I will get the copy negative out. There just might be a bit more of the serial.
I will also clean up the image.
You are most welcome to use this shot with your promotion.
Mark
By: gdenney - 29th September 2004 at 20:23
Thanks Mark!
I’ll be in contact about the photo!
Glenn
By: jbs - 29th September 2004 at 20:15
When does the book with your photo collection come out Mark12? It would be like looking into a gold mine for many of us 🙂
Dan
Dan,
Trust me not many of us would be able to afford such a tome should it ever appear, it would weigh a ton and run to a few of thousand pages at least… :rolleyes:
I can see it now great swathes of the Amazonian rain forest quivering in fear over the very thought of such a volume 😀 😀
By: Dan Johnson - 29th September 2004 at 20:09
When does the book with your photo collection come out Mark12? It would be like looking into a gold mine for many of us 🙂
Dan
By: Mark12 - 29th September 2004 at 20:07
The Pat Lardner-Burke connection
I do not understand this sentence :confused: . At least, MH434 can not be the Hurri´s serial, which starts with a B.
:confused:
Our famous UK Spitfire MH434 codes ZD-B has ‘kills’ with 222 Squadron. The pilot was Lardner-Burke
This Hurricane photo of HA-C is from his personal photo album from when presumably he was with 126 Squadron in Malta.
Lardner-Burke later went on to command 1 Squadron RAF.
Mark
By: ...starfire - 29th September 2004 at 19:51
That is he of the MH434 kills connection with 222 Squadron and his personal Spitfire ML119, when OC 1 Squadron, recovered to the UK from Burma in recent times.
I do not understand this sentence :confused: . At least, MH434 can not be the Hurri´s serial, which starts with a B.
:confused:
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September 29, 2004 at 7:27 pm