1:72 Hawker Hurricane of Cz. pilots in RAF squadrons Pt.I

Eleven Hurricanes with Czechoslovak crews

The sheet maps the machines flown by Czech and Slovak airmen after they left for Britain. It does not limit itself to the two best known Czechoslovak squadrons: the markings cover nine different units, from No. 43 through No. 46, 73, 96, 111, 242 and 257 to No. 601 and No. 615. That is exactly what makes the set valuable, because it shows how widely those pilots were spread across the whole fighter defense.

Who is among them

Among the markings is a Hurricane Mk.IIB of No. 242 Squadron flown by Josef Bryks, and two machines of No. 601 Squadron, one of which belonged to Frantisek Mares. Karel Mrazek with No. 46 Squadron is represented as well, a pilot who later worked his way up to leading a whole wing. Serial numbers are given with every entry, so a machine can be traced in the literature.

Make-up of the sheet

• Seven machines of the Mk.I variant, three of the Mk.IIB and one Mk.IIC.
• Nine different Royal Air Force squadrons on one sheet.
• With every set of markings, the fuselage serial number and the rank and name of the pilot.
• 1:72 scale, the most widespread size for Second World War fighters.

The set is meant for a Hurricane kit, which the builder obtains separately. Given the number of markings, the sheet will do for several models and suits anyone building a coherent display case on a single theme. Anyone following the subject systematically can combine the sheets of the same themed series and build a whole group of machines of one period together.