Hi,

Hawker Hunters in Iraq .

From what I have understood the IAF had some 15 Hunter F.6’s, along with 4 FR.10’s and 6 T.69’s.

Can anyone confirm this please . Even add to the numbers or perhaps add serial numbers of the FR.10’s and T.69’s which i beleive came from the UK ex Belgian Hunter’s.

Several of the Hunters were lost in combat, what became of those left.

Are there any that were found in Iraq post Sadam ?

Thanks

Alex

Alex, your numbers for those marks are correct (except they weren’t strictly FR.10s), the bulk of the Iraqi fleet being FGA.59s. Full list as follows;

Delivered in 1957 were 15 ex-RAF F.6s, ironically purchased with US funds.

In 1964-65 Iraq purchased a total of 24 FGA.59s – 22 ex-Belgian F.6s and 2 ex-Dutch.

In 1965-67 18 FGA.59As were delivered – 2 ex-Dutch F.6s and 16 ex-Belgian.

In 1966 the 4 FR.59B aircraft arrived, all ex-Dutch F.6s.

The T.69s were delivered in 2 batches, 4 ex-Belgian F.6 conversions in 1964, and a further 2 in 1965.

The difference between the FGA.59 and the FGA.59A was that the former lacked IFF.

The 4 FR.59B aircraft were (serials in brackets indicate their former Dutch tail numbers),

– 662 (N-221)
– 663 (N-205)
– 664 (N-259)
– 665 (N-263)

The T-birds were,

– 567 (formerly the Hawker demonstrator G-APUX loaned to Iraq for aircrew conversion)
– 567 (IF-84, replaced G-APUX which went off to Chile as T.72 J-718)
– 568 (IF-68)
– 569 (IF-143)

The issue of survivors is a bit confused at present for obvious reasons!

If the worst comes to the worst what will happen to the Hunter sat outside the Hull factory if it closes down?

It’ll be hung on fishing line from someone’s bedroom ceiling for a few months, have it’s undercarriage broken off during a horrific landing accident on the landing carpet (plus maybe a tail plane for good measure) then set fire to and chucked out of an upstairs window…..

…or was it just me? :confused:

…but where was the “Dr” this morning on the news clip? ,only Dave Thomas was present, so things are looking up from that point of view as well!

He was on the report I saw at about 8:20 (ish).

I saw a BAe Hawk today. I think it was red

What a coincidence. I saw 10 of them yesterday, all parked in a nice neat line at Exeter airport.

This programme has certainly got people talking!I’m sure after it has screened there will be even more comments, I think people should watch the programme and also read ‘Baders Tangmere Spitfires’ Dilip Sarkar 1996 & ‘Spitfire Courage & Sacrifice’ Dilip Sarkar 2006 and make up their own minds! I’m sure Dilip will post his veiws on his website, http://www.DilipSarkarMBE.co.uk, at some stage, as we have read the veiws of Andy Saunders on this forum, this will give people a balanced veiw from both parties, and from which the public can then come to their own conclutions.

Having seen seen the programme, and on a separate note, i will say it is interesting to hear Mr Saunders saying about past digs , and i quote ” It wasn’t so much a search for bits of metal, or bits of aircraft, it was the human interest and the story of the pilots and eyewitnesses that interested me”. For someone not interested in bits of metal he seems to have a lucrative career selling these ‘bits’ on Ebay, although i must point out he is not the only so called ‘ historian’ doing this, i wonder what these pilots, some of whomb were killed in the crashes would make of this? And i wonder if any of the proceeds are given to a relavent charity.

Er, you wouldn’t happen to actually be Dilip Sarkar would you?

Tony is well underway with the trailing edge fairing manufacture, and the flaps. He is going great guns!

Bruce

Recent piccies here.

Both pictures – bent as a Butcher’s ‘ook. No question about it.