Hurricane for Lone Star

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:29 pm

Here is a few pics that were taken quite some time ago. The Hurricane is now pretty much complete. Hopefully within the next month or so she should be back into the paint shop. She will have a desert scheme. LSFM's Spitfire and Hurricane are painted up as Lance Wades aircraft. He was from Texas and volunteered for the RAF. He became the leading Allied Ace in the Mediterranean with 23 aerial victories. Im hoping for the chance to crew this years Thunder Over Michigan. Both aircraft are scheduled.

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:41 pm

Very nice photos, and great to see the progress. With respect Lance Wade being the top allied ace in the mediteranean though, I think you will find that that honor goes to South African Marmaduke St.John "Pat" Pattle. He spent all of his amazing combat career in the med. and is unofficially credited with 50 aerial victories, making him the highest scoring western ace. Believe it or not, but 15 1/2 of these victories were made flying a gloster gladiator biplane!

Cheers,
Richard

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 4:52 pm

I believe your right. Wade was killed in Jan. of 44 when his aircraft crashed. Maybe up until then, he had the title.

Thanks!

DazDaMan · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:12 pm

That's another Spit fuselage hanging above the Hurricane, isn't it? If so, which one is it?

Also, pardon my ignorance, but shouldn't the Spitfire also be painted in desert colours, rather than a temperate European scheme?

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:21 pm

DazDaMan wrote:

That's another Spit fuselage hanging above the Hurricane, isn't it? If so, which one is it?

Also, pardon my ignorance, but shouldn't the Spitfire also be painted in desert colours, rather than a temperate European scheme?

Thats the actual paint scheme of Wades Spitfire. As far as the Spitfire in the background of the pic, I dont know what mark it is.

corsair166b · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:30 pm

The spit in the background is a Mk 9 owned (or was) by a doctor in Massachusetts...word is it has been sold...

I hope Ray does'nt take exception to these pics being posted here, he called me three years ago when I posted some pics on the FlyPast forum and got all upset...my pics from three years ago aren't much different than these....obviously Ray and I have had our differences over photographic issues....but it will be nice to see the Hurricane fly....and I have my spies at the airport to tell me when it does, so a trip will be in order...

Mark

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:39 pm

Hi Elroy, Pat Pattle's last kill came in April 1941, the day he died, which is way before Wade's death in 1944. There's a very good chance that Wade was the highest scoring American pilot in the Med though. Regardless, his career is quite obviously a very impressive one. It's very sad that he didn't live longer. I'm very glad to see the LSFM commemorating him to be sure, and it'll be great to see another hurri' fly! Do you know when they anticipate its first flight?

Cheers,
Richard

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:57 pm

Dangling Spitfire - A Mark IX MH603 ex SAAF.

PeterA

Tom Crawford · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:15 pm

The Hurricane is essentially complete and is very nearly ready to ferry to the paint shop but there seems to be an unfortunate paper work problem. But the museum is optimistic that it will all be resolved very soon and the ferry flight to the paint shop will take place. Here is a link to the museum's official restoration status report on the hurricane.

http://www.lsfm.org/index.php?pgid=21

jamesintucson · **Joined:** Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:42 am **Posts:** 546

I believe that Lance Wade was the leading non-Commonwealth ace in the RAF. We've looked at doing something on him here at Pima since he attended the University of Arizona and is supposed to have had "Arizona Wildcat" painted on at least one of his aircraft.

James

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:34 pm

Back in Nov we had the the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame (located inside Lone Star) induction for the Class of '05. Wade was one of those inductees. His Nephew accepted in his honor. I couldnt believe how much he resembled his Uncle, even hearing his country boyTexas accent...He served as a pretty good picture of how Lance Wade was!

Andy in West Oz · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:47 pm

Crikey that's nice work. Ahh, Merlins!

DazDaMan · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:28 am

Elroy13 wrote:

DazDaMan wrote:

That's another Spit fuselage hanging above the Hurricane, isn't it? If so, which one is it?

Also, pardon my ignorance, but shouldn't the Spitfire also be painted in desert colours, rather than a temperate European scheme?

Thats the actual paint scheme of Wades Spitfire. As far as the Spitfire in the background of the pic, I dont know what mark it is.

Fair enough, I'll bow to your knowledge on this one.

Firebird · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:21 am

jamesintucson wrote:

I believe that Lance Wade was the leading non-Commonwealth ace in the RAF.

Correct.

Wade stayed in the RAF rather than transfer to the USAAF.

Ryan Harris · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 6:13 pm

Elroy can you maybe enlighten us on what is going on with the Lightning? I've got eyewitness accounts of cowlings off and props being spun over. Is she coming alive again?

Also, what is the latest on the Spit? I know her fuel tanks have been pulled for quite sometime now.

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Hurricane for Lone Star

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