Hurricats

(adamcotton @ Nov 22 2005, 03:21 AM) [post=41948]Adrian,

Not sure if any of the Hurricanes launched made it back to land, but I do know only one pilot was lost - New Zealander F/Lt Ken Tate, who was killed in August, 1941.
[/b]
I thought the Hurricats had their gear stripped off for weight reasons and always ditched beside a ship so the pilot could be recovered. Is this not true?

 

Yes, Jimbo - the theory was that, having shot down the Fw200, the Hurricat pilot ditched alongside the ship so he could be fished out of the water, or baled out ahead of the convoy. However, if the chase had taken him an inordinately long way from the ship such that he might be just as close to land as he was to the CAM ship, he might under those circumstances try to reach the nearest airfield, or at least put down on the first suitable stretch of dry land. Not sure how often that situation transpired though - if it ever did!

Not sure if the wheels were removed or not. It makes sense from a weight saving perspective and as, with that radiator under the wing centre section, just waiting to scoop in water, the Hurricane must've been tricky to ditch, I think most pilots would've preferred to put her down on dry land even without wheels!

After Everett had alighted on the water his aircraft pitched violently below the waves, it sank rapidly and he managed to escape at a depth later estimated to be at least 30 feet. His experience led to the issuing of instructions for pilots to lower the flaps and wheels, slide back the canopy, punch out the starboard escape panel and tighten their straps prior to attempting to ditch at sea.....

 

The Catafighters and Merchant Aircraft Carriers by Kenneth Poolman published by William Kimber & Co in 1970 sbn 718300521 is a very informative book on the subject with some really good photos in it


Peter