Soviet Airmen Learn To Fly British-Made Hurricanes

Northern Advocate, 14 November 1941, Page 6

Soviet Airmen Learn To Fly British-Made Hurricanes

[British Official Wireless] (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, November 13. THE FIRST RUSSIAN TO FLY A HURRICANE ON THE EASTERN WAR FRONT IS A 40-YEAR-OLD MAJORGENERAL COMMANDING THE NORTHERN RED FLEET AIR ARM. The aircraft bearing the Soviet Red Star on the wings in place •of the red, white and blue roundels, was presented to the general. After brief instructions from one of the Royal Air Force pilots lie took off. ■Hundreds of Hurricanes are now being assembled for service •on various parts of the front and the personnel of the Royal Air Force wings are engaged in instructing Russian pilots. The armament and service ability of the. Hurricane tighlers are much admired by the Russian pilots who are on an average older than Royal Air Force pilots.

Determined Pilots Our pilots, states the Air Ministry News Service, have been greatly impressed by the determination of the Soviet pilots. Recently a Soviet pilot returning from a raid, rammed an enemy aircraft and escaped by parachute. The enemy air crew also baled out and were promptly engaged on the ground by the Russian pilot in hand-to-hand fighting. He killed them all and then walked five miles over snowcovered tracks and hills to his base. Although the aerodromes will be snow covered throughout the winter Hurricanes will not have skis fitted to the undercarriage. Experience has already shown that they can land easily on aerodromes that have been rolled regularly. The Royal Air Force wing in Russia has been elated by the arrival of the first letters from Home since they arrived in Russia.

R.A.F. Wing In Action

A Hurricane flight commander with the wing in Russia reports an unexpected encounter with German raiders. Hurricanes were using a flying field close to the line when they were warned of the approach of 14 Junkers 88s with an escort of Messerschmitts 109 S. The Hurricanes were in the air on their way to intercept the raiders as the enemy appeared in the sky. The British flight commander engaged the Junkers 88s and left one wabbling into a cloud when he saw some aircraft forward agd above him. They were flying in an out of clouds and he took them for another flight of his squadron. He radioed: “I am joining you” and manoeuvred into line with the other aircraft. They were executing a turn which had almost been completed when he was amazed to see that they were six Messerschmitt 109 s. One of the enemy recognised the intruder at the same moment and peeled off to attack him. The Royal Air Force pilot had also broken off from the strange formation to get room to manoeuvre. He gave the oncoming attacker a head-on burst of machine-gun fire which sent the German down in a screaming dive. Other Hurricanes then streaked up to aid the truant and the enemy broke away.