Items in the Hurricane Tag
Hurricane's first flight at Brooklands
As it was still secret only 80 people witness it. Serial number K5083. George Bullman at the controls. Lasted 30 minutes and broke 300mph in a shallow dive. After landing Bullman said to Sydney Camm "Syd, you've most certainly got a winner here!"
Hurricane makes its first public appearance at Hendon
First production Hurricane
First Hurricanes delivered
Four Hurricanes arrive at 111 Sqn, Northolt. L1548, L1549, L1550 L1551.
First Hurricane squadron fully operational
111 Sqn, Northolt.
First Hurricane Victory
P/O P. Mould of 1 Sqn. in L1842 shoots down a Do 17P over Toul.
Hurricanes take off from Wick
Hurricanes of 43 Sqn. take off from Wick to intercept German aircraft heading for Scapa Flow. Estimates vary - at least 24 raiders. 8.20pm Orkney: Air Raid Warning RED
OSDef HQ (Stromness Hotel) - CO Brigadier Kemp very unwell - has spent day in bed but "got out by raid 8.15. Dressed and saw whole show."
Source: @Ness_Battery
Hurricanes intercept He 111s over Orkney
Hurricanes from Wick intercept 6 enemy aircraft 40 miles E of Copinsay. Formation broken up, one shot down into sea. Heinkel 111 lands at Wick, 2 crew dead, pilot & wireless operator taken prisoner. Great difficulty for pilots - planes attacking from West, no light.
HMS CURLEW estimates 24 planes in attacks, 6 turned away by fighters. "the objective appeared to be the Hoxa and Switha booms. High level bombing against a floating boom could hardly be expected to achieve success. No bombs fell particularly close to the target."
The raid is made up of He 111 and Ju 88.
Source: @Ness_Battery
804 and 605 Sqn. scrambled to intercept aircraft over Orkney
804 Sqn. (Gladiators) patrolling Copinsay intercept Do 17 at 16:40.
804 Sqn's diary, quoted in Sky over Scapa, reads:
A tremendous day for HMS Sparrowhawk, the first and we hope by no means the last. 804 Squadron began their fun at 16.05 hours when Yellow Section flew off to Copinsay. There were a great many plots on the board, the weather fine with layers of cloud varying in density up to about 10,000 feet. about 16.40 hours P/O Sabey saw a Do17 and the section gave chase. Sub.Lt. Fell got in a burst at about 500 yds. as the Do17 disappeared into the cloud but followed him in.P/O Peacock went in above the cloud and as he came out so did the Do17, 400 yds. away. Peackock got in a burst before the enemy aircraft dived away back into the clouds. We were later informed that Do17 was crying SOS with a leaking petrol tank and did not reach his base.