One Way Hurricanes For Convoy Protection

[WDA]

Got a question!

Did Great Britain actually catapult Hurricane fighters from cargo ships to
protect convoys from German Folkwulf bombers? If so, did the Hurricane pilot
then ditch or bail out after the fight? And what percentage of Hurricane
pilots ever made it back, especially on the Murmansk run?

Thanks,

WDA



end

[ANDREW ROBERT BREEN]

In article >,
WDA > wrote:
>Got a question!
>
>Did Great Britain actually catapult Hurricane fighters from cargo ships to
>protect convoys from German Folkwulf bombers? If so, did the Hurricane pilot
>then ditch or bail out after the fight? And what percentage of Hurricane
>pilots ever made it back, especially on the Murmansk run?

Hurricanes and Fulmars both, the latter mainly in the early stages
of the programme. The whole thing was pretty much a stop-gap before
the first escort 'carrier (Audacity) appeared, but it was generally
successful. If the fighter was launched close enough to land (whether
..uk, Iceland or Ireland - the Irish were notably understanding about
turning a blind eye to pilots making their way to the border :)
then that's where it went, otherwise the pilot ditched in the hope that
one of the convoy escorts would be able to stop for him.

AFAIK Hurricats weren't used extensively on the Murmansk run - the
shadowers there were B&V flying boats which were heavily armoured and
a distinct problem for Hurricanes with 0.303" guns (the FW.200
was a very vunerable aeroplane by comparison). Some were used, and
IIRC the modus operandi was to head for Soviet-held territory
having engaged and land there. The pilot got handed back, the
Soviet Air Force got another Hurricane.

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
"Time has stopped, says the Black Lion clock
and eternity has begun" (Dylan Thomas)

[Keith Willshaw]

"WDA" > wrote in message
t...
> Got a question!
>
> Did Great Britain actually catapult Hurricane fighters from cargo ships to
> protect convoys from German Folkwulf bombers?

Yes

> If so, did the Hurricane pilot
> then ditch or bail out after the fight?

Yes

> And what percentage of Hurricane
> pilots ever made it back, especially on the Murmansk run?
>

On the Murmansk run they'd normally head for Soviet territory as
ditching in those seas wasnt healthy.

see
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/hurri7.html
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/exhibitions/boa/camships.asp

Keith

[Bowjey]

Yes they did cat hurricanes of merchant ships on atlantic convoys not sure
about the Murmansk run

[Tom Cervo]

Ralph Barker's "The Hurricats" has the story in full: lots of first person
accounts and very well written, like his other books.