Hurricane IIC Build- Kiwi connection?

[kozi]

Hi Guys,

I am looking for info on Kiwi Pilots who may have flown this type for a build I am working on at the moment.
Have had a look around the usual sites and Googled a bit without success so far.
Figured there must have been a few pilots who flew the IIC with RAF Sqns at some point.

Any info muchly appreciated,

Cheers,

Kozi

[Dave Homewood]

James Cranstone DFC flew on three Hurricane squadrons in India and Burma which were all equipped at some point with the IIC, those being No. 67, No. 146 and No. 11 Squadrons, but as to being on those squadrons while they had the IIC I think the only one would have been his time on No. 11 Squadron (in which he flew 58 of his 197 operational sorties, as A Flight Comander). I met and interviewed him in February, he had a fascinating career flying Buffaloes in the Battle of Singapore/Malaya, and after the long period on Hurricanes in the Indian sub-continent he went on in June 1944 to lead No. 5 Squadron RAF on P-47 Thunderbolts. His final two sorties were in the L5 Sentinel.

[Dave Homewood]

I should add that sadly he threw away his logbook years ago after it fell apart, and he has no photos of his Hurricane days.

[silverfox]

Sqn Ldr V. K. Jacobs flew with 136 Squadron on the Arakaan Front in 1942 -43. He first flew IIbs then converted to IIc. One Mk IIC was coded HM E but I don't know the serial.

There is a good book written by him called The Woodpecker Story.

Hope this is of some use.

[kozi]

Thanks Guys,

Great info, gives me somewhere to start, I'll now be able to track those Sqns histories hopefully.

Thanks again,

Kozi

[Dave Homewood]

Kozi, have a look into No. 258 Squadron too. They flew the Hurricane IIC from Nov 1943 - Aug 1944 in the India/Burma region and they were a squadron strongly connected to the RNZAF. When they first formed their Hurricanes all wore the Silver Fern emblem as most of the pilots were RNZAF. They had hoped to become the NZ Spitfire Squadron but No. 485 Squadron was formed instead and the Spitfires that the people of NZ bought went to that unit, as did many of 258's pilots. but some kiwis stayed on with 258 and many more went on to serve with 258 when it went to the Far East. I have been told that they continued to wear the Silver Fern emblem throughout the war. I reckon you'll pick up some great colour schemes with that unit.

[silverfox]

You could do Z3574 OK 2, personal aircraft of Air Vice Marshal Keith Park. Dark Earth over Dark green with Sky undersides. A rectangular Command pennant was carried under the cockpit.
Born in Thames, WWI ace on Bristol Fighters, the commander of 11 Group during the Battle of Britain and Malta in 1942. Unsung hero over here until the recent unveiling of the statue in London.