THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

HURRICANES

Hurricanes were much harder to come by than the twenty Spitfires.
Here are a few of the Hurricanes that appeared in the movie.



The famed Henlow line-up. The Shuttleworth Collection's Sea Hurricane Ib Z7015 is nearest the camera, while Spitfires trail off into the distance.
Fuselage letter codes were later applied with tape so that they could be changed as needed.
(Photo from Roy Bonser, most text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")


One of the movie's six Hurricanes waits for its new fabric covering before taking its place in the cadre of film fighters.
(Photo from the Jean-Michel Goyat Collection, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")


At the end of filming, aircraft were returned to their owners, or in the case of those owned by Spitfire Productions, put up for sale. Sir William Roberts pruchased Hawker
Hurricane XII G-AWLW, along with the two Spitfire TR.9s. The 'Hurri' is seen here at Simpson's Aero Services Elstree facility immediately after its involvement in Battle of Britain.
(Photo from the Robert J. Rudhall Collection, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")


At the RAF Henlow press launch for the film in April 1968, a number of wartime fighter aces were present to add weight to the film-makers cause.
Here, Robert Stanford Tuck poses on the wing of Hawker Hurricane IIc PZ865. 
(Photo from Roy Bonser, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")


Hurricane XII G-AWLW eventually ended up back home in Canada. Purchased by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum it was a regular participant at airshows in
North America and is seen here at Hamilton, Ontario, in 1989. Sadly it was destroyed in a hangar fire at CWH in 1993. A sad loss indeed!
(Photo from Robert J. Rudhall, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")


Battle of Britain Flight's Hurricane IIc LF363 takes centre stage in this view, while seven other fighters bring up the rear.
(Photo from the Brian Williams Collection,, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")


Hawker Hurricane IIc LF363 banks away from the camera. (This is the same aircraft as in the photo above this one.)  Despite wearing full squadron codes
and Polish insignia, the fighter is still adorned with Battle of France black and white undersides. Surely a slip up on behalf of the film's continuity department?
(Photo from Peter Sargent, text from Robert J. Rudhall's "Battle of Britain Film - The Photo Album")



Hurricane I P2617 normally was on display at Bicester before the movie.
(photo from Air Pictorial Magazine, September 1967)


Hurricane IIB CF-SMI was the first aircraft to arrive from overseas (from Canada),
having done so carried within a USAF Globemaster aircraft.
(photo from Air Pictorial Magazine, September 1967)


Battle of Britain Flight Hurricane II LF363 at Duxford in August 1968.
(photo by Mike Springett via Aircraft Magazine)


Hurricane XII G-AWLW, brought in from Canada, on finals for Duxford.
(photo by Tony Clarke via Aircraft Magazine)


This is one of six Hurricanes used in the movie.
Note the Polish air force marking under the engine exhaust stacks.
(photo from Flight International Magazine, September 11, 1969)




 

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