***DONE: Hurricane Mk IIC of No. 351 (Yugoslav) Sqn RAF, Lybia 1944 Group Build

[imalko]

Username: imalko
First name: Igor
Category: Category 2/Intermediate
Scale: 1:72
Manufacturer: Revell
Model Type: Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIC/trop
Details: LD 116/A, No. 351 (Y) Squadron RAF, Benina, Lybia, Summer 1944
Decals: aftermarket decals by Lift here! (Limited edition kit decals made in Serbia)

[imalko]

Here is the three view color illustration of an aircraft which model I would like to build. No. 351 and 352 Yugoslav Squadrons were unique within RAF being only ones allowed to use their National markings on their aircraft. This was not common practice in RAF as other squadrons manned with foreigners (Polles, Czechs, etc) were only allowed to paint small National insignia on the nose or beneath the cockpit of their aircraft, but never to over-paint RAF roundel.

[imalko]

Also known as "Druga eskadrila NOVJ" (2nd Squadron of People’s Liberating Army of Yugoslavia), the No. 351 (Y) Squadron RAF was formed on 1 July 1944 at Benina in Libya as third unit within RAF manned with flight and ground personnel of Yugoslav nationality. The other two units were Yugoslav "B" Flight of No. 94 Sqn RAF and No. 352 (Y) Sqn RAF both equipped with Spitfires.

Upon its formation No. 351 (Y) Sqn was equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk IICs in the fighter-bomber role. In September the squadron was re-equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk IV(RP)s and moved to Cannae, Italy, where it joined No. 281 Wing RAF as part of Balkan Air Force (BAF).

According to the agreement between Allies and leader of Yugoslav Partisans Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslav manned Squadrons within RAF were to be used only over Yugoslav territory in support of NOVJ operations against Axis forces. The squadron used an forward operating base on the island of Vis and from February 1945 was also able to make use of forward bases on the Yugoslav coast.

Squadron was organized by the war formation prescribed for mobile fighter squadron RAF, with two flights of 8 Hawker Hurricanes each. Flying and technical personnel consisted of airmen from the former Royal Yugoslav Air Force who joined NOVJ and staff from the First Air Base NOVJ. The first combat operation of the squadron was on 23 October 1944.

The first squadron commander was Captain Aleksandar Cenić, the commander of "A" flight was Lieutenant Stanislav Vouk and the commander of "B" flight was Captain Francis Jež. During the war the squadron lost 23 aircraft with 4 pilots killed in action, among them the squadron commander.

Over the course of nine months of the war, No. 351 (Y) Squadron RAF carried out 226 combat operations with 971 take offs. These tasks included supporting troops in Yugoslavia, fighter protection and reconnaissance. Cannae, Vis and Zemunik airfields were used.

On 5 April 1945 the whole squadron moved to what had been their forward base in Yugoslavia, airfield Prkos, from where it continued to operate until it was disbanded from RAF on 16 May 1945. On 18 May 1945 "Prvi vazduhoplovni lovački puk JA" (1st Fighter Regiment of Yugoslav Air Force) was formed from former No. 351 and No. 352 RAF Squadrons.

Aircraft variant used by No. 351 Squadron:
Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC: July 1944 - September 1944
Hawker Hurricane Mk IV(RP): September 1944 - June 1945

Pictures

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find picture of this particular Hurricane which model I wish to build or any Yugoslav Mk IIC for that matter. So, here are few pictures of Hurricane Mk IV(RP)s serving with No 351 (Y) Sqn found on various websites on the internet. Last surviving Hurricane Mk IV(RP) of No. 351 (Y) Sqn is now displayed at Aeronautical Museum in Belgrade. The photo of this Hurricane was taken during my last visit there in 2007.

[Lucky13]

This will be interesting....

[imalko]

Fallowing text is quoted from one website which I’ve accidentally found while researching No. 351 (Y) Sqn:

Pilot Officer Jack Torrance (No 43 Squadron Desert Airforce 1943 - Balkan Airforce 1944/45), served as an instructor training Yugoslav airmen in 351 squadron. No.351 Squadron was formed at Benina, Libya, on 1 July 1944 as a Yugoslav-manned fighter-bomber unit. Equipped with Hurricanes, it moved to Italy to join No.281 Wing of the Balkan Air Force for ground attack missions in support of Yugoslav partisans.
"Five of the Yugoslavs could speak English and had flight experience so we used them as instructors. I was a interesting experience as I transmitted the instructions through these 5 men. Wing Commander Park came out to give them their Wings.“ Flt Lt. "Cloudy" Rainer a Welshman was with Jack in 43 Squadron and helped train 351 squadron. They last met at the 43 Squadron Reunion in 1995. Sharing such experiences made for strong friendships.
To shorten the range from its mainland base, the squadron normally mounted its sorties from the island of Vis in the Adriatic, while in February 1945 it began to operate from a captured airfield on the Yugoslav coast.

[ozhawk40]

An interesting subject Igor, this should be good.

Cheers

Peter

[Heinz]

Fascinating stuff Igor, will be a great build!

I'll be doing a desert Hurri myself in 1/48

[Wurger]

Another interesting build....

[Micdrow]

Hope these help!!!

[Wurger]

Cool stuff Paul.What a great support.

[Micdrow]

Cool stuff Paul.What a great support.

Thanks Wojtek but he may like these better I took this Friday last week

[Wurger]

Where did you take them?

[imalko]

Thanks very much Paul. The picture with ground personnel moving rockets I've seen before, but others I haven't. Great find. You even managed to find one picture of particular Hurricane which model I wish to build. Color photos are great too. They will prove valuable during this build.
Your help is very much appreciated.

[Micdrow]

Where did you take them?

I took them at the EAA Airventure airshow last Friday. More pictures of the airshow here Wojtek.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/air...9-a-19947.html (Airventure 2009)

[Micdrow]

Thanks very much Paul. The picture with ground personnel moving rockets I've seen before, but others I haven't. Great find. You even managed to find one picture of particular Hurricane which model I wish to build. Color photos are great. They too will prove valuable during this build.
Your help is very much appreciated.

Your welcome, Thats all the color pictures I have that Ive taken but I have plenty of material on the Hurricane as far as the aircraft itself. Feel free to ask and I will see what I can find if you need something specific.