Canadian Hurricane returns to the air

After a sixteen year restoration Hawker Hurricane Mk XII RCAF Serial Number 5447 (c/n CCF/46002) made its first flight on 23 April 2022. The fighter, registered as CF-TPM, is owned by the Vintage Wings of Canada collection in Gatineau (QUE).

It was initially salvaged and restored by Harry Whereatt, a farmer and warbird lover from Assiniboia (SK). Harry made a few flights in the plane as C-GGAJ before he sold it to Mike Potter/VWC.

After its arrival at the Vintage Wings facility in Gatineau, Québec, the Hurricane was stripped of it skin for inspection. It was then decided to take the aircraft down and start over, including the installation of an all-new wing centre section. The restoration was taken up by Vintech Aero, a company owned by Mike Potter.

The restored Hurricane has been finished in the unique and very distinctive markings of a Hurricane Mk.I (Serial ‘P2961’, with code ‘LE-A’) as was flown by FO Willie McKnight, DFC, a Canadian pilot in No 242 sq. RAF. McKnight failed to return from a mission over the north of France on 12 January 1941.

The squadron nose art included a cheeky depiction of Hitler being booted in the ass by a black flying boot with 242 written on it. But more strikingly, the side of the fuselage carried a large representation of a skeletal grim reaper with a sickle in hand pointing forward to the enemy he is about to claim.

On its first flight in sixteen years, the Hurricane was flown by VWC chief pilot Dave Hadfield, closely watched from an Extra 330 chase plane by restoration project leader Pat Tenger.

Source: Vintage Wings of Canada
Photos: Peter Handley and Pat Tenger (air-to-air)