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Gentlemen,
May I add further information on the purported history of Hurricane 5711. In the late 1960 period, the Air Museum of Canada (AMC) was formed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Among the collections many aircraft were two Hawker Hurricanes having C/N 42024 and 44019. When Les Hunt compiled the history of all warbirds then known in existence, the AMC replied with information detailing aircraft in their collection. This information was published in Hunt's book,l "Veterans and Vintage Aircraft," 4th Revised edition, Garnstone Press, 1978 on page 193. Amongst the aircraft listed, it states "Hawker Hurricane IIB 42024 (44019 is at present in Saskatchewan on lease)."
The AMC floundered in its development and the city of Calgary took over all assets and liabilities of this organization. The collection came under the auspices of the Calgary-based, Aero Space Museum Association. Apparently the Regina, Saskatchewan, group that leased 44019, whose C/N correlates with RCAF Hurricane 5424 continued in its attempt to rebuilt and restore the airframe (RCAF 5424) to flying condition. It is known they visited the Cameron Logan farm in Scotland, Ontario. After WWII Logan purchase up to 200 surplus aircraft which he scrapped for profit. Logan still retained several Hurricane derelict center-sections on his property. The Regina group visited the farm to strip parts from these cente- section to aid in rebuilding of RCAF 5424.
The next event bringing RCAF 5424 to public attention occurred when a newspaper article by Earl Fowler appeared in the Calgary Herald, dated Monday 10 January 1983. It states as follows: " A Calgary Group's effort to prevent the export of a vintage Second World War aircraft to the United Kingdom appears to have failed. And investigation by Calgary city police indicate the Hawker Hurricane fighter is probably already in England near Coventry, says Bob Nelson, technical supervisor for the Calgary Planetarium. He said chances of having the aircraft brought back to Canada are slim, but neither the city nor the Aero Space Museum Association of Calgary is prepared to drop the matter. Nelson said the Regina group which sold the warplane to wealthy collector Steven Grey may be sued by the City of Calgary or charged with fraud or theft, depending on the results of a Calgary police investigation. The museum association is involved because it is the successor of the defunct Air Museum of Canada, which leased the fuselage, wings and other components of the Hurricane to two Regina men in 1970 at $1.00 a year for 20 years. Peter Norman, general manager of the old museum from 1967 to 1971, has signed an affidavit saying a condition of the lease was that the parts were not to be sold outside Canada. At the time, the Regina residents were interested in rebuilding the Hurricane. The City of Calgary, which became the owner of all museum assets in 1972, subsequently provided the two men with a nearly new Merlin 29 engine for the aircraft for only $900.00. The new museum association learned in November that the plane was being sold abroad for a reported $153,000. Along with the Hamilton-based Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, which discovered the sale independently, the group has been fighting to prevent the export.
"Nelson involved because the planetarium house the city's collection of vintage aircraft, said it now appears the Hurricane was in England even before the sale was discovered by the Calgary group. Civil or criminal proceeding may be launched if city police can can clearly establish ownership and the location of the plane. Nelson said Grey, who resides in Switzerland, had not responded to efforts to contact him. There are only four of five Hurricanes left in Canada, including part of one at the planetarium. Nelson estimate that a Hurricane restored to flying condition would be worth about $500,000."
The above events are well-known to Canadian aviation researchers. According to a published report in the UK journal "Control Column," Grey was quite irate over the above allegations impugning his standing and reputation. When the Hurricane arrived in the UK, aviation magazine "Air Pictorial" published in the Register Review by Alan Johnson on page 314, that registration had been applied for and issued, giving the following information: "G-HURI Hurricane IIB, S. Grey, Geneva, ex RCAF 5547." It is a mystery where Mr. Johnson obtained the identity 5547, but it is assumed from official CAA documents.
Now comes the question of who rightfully owns this Hurricane? The Calgary Aero Space Museum, when they took over all assets and liabilities of CAM, did this include all contractual agreements by CAM? Because the Hurricane was en route or already in the UK, "possession is 9/10ths of the law." Also, the Calgary lawyers may believe the Calgary Aero Space Museum may have had a "moral right" to the Hurricane, but without the original contract or documents, it appears they may not have possessed a "legal right."
Apparently at the time he purchased the Hurricane, Stephen Grey never heard of CAM or the Calgary Aero Space Museum, and he was unaware of the arrangements between this organization and the gentlemen in Regina.
Besides the identities 5424 and 5547 listed previously, G-HURI has appeared with a new identity of 5711? According to "Aeroplane Monthly" preservation profiles, the Hurricane is currently listed as 5711 with C/N 72036? I wrote to the British Civil Aviation Authority in the UK, requesting copies from the file on Hurricane 5424, 5547 and 5711 or G-HURI. The following is their response:
Safety Regulation Group
Aircraft Registration
23 January 2004
Ref. G-HURI
Dear Sir,
G-HHURI Hawker Hurricane Mk XII S/N 72036.
Thank you for your letter of 15 January 2004. Please find enclosed printouts from the register, which details the registered ownership for this aircraft.
I have checked our records and when the aircraft was first registered in 1983, the correct manufacturers serial number was not known, so it was registered with a serial number of what we were advised was the previous identity, which was Royal Canadian Air Force serial 5547. In 1989 we were adivsed of the correct manufacturers serial number of 72036, which is when the register was changed. We have nothing in our records that mention RCAF 5711, or RCAF 5424. Please note that most of our information is based on what is told to us by the respecitve registered owners of the aircraft.
I hope this helps with your research, but if you need any more informatiom, please do not hestiate to contact us.
Yours fatihfully,
Steven Newtron
Aircraft Registrar
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Included in the letter are sheets detailing date of registration, including its new ownerhsip which states:
Mark G-HURI...Aircraft Mfr Canadian Car and Foundry Co.
Status Registered Aircraft Type..... Hawker Hurricane Mk XII
Previous ID....... RCAF 5547...serial No. 72036
Reigstered Owner.....Historical Aircraft Collection Ltd.
Owned....................PO Box 83, Ordnance House
.............................31 Pier road, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 8PW
MTOW kg 3402...CofA Category...Permit to Fly
Year built...1941....CofA Appl Date.....CofA Issue date.. 12/07/2002
Hours flown 222...CofA Duration... 1 year.....CofA ex Date 11/07/2003
Temp Doc Code PTT... Temp Doc Iss Date 13/05/2002... Export Iss date
DofR Issue Date 21/28/2002....Engine Mfr Rolls-Royce
De-reg Date........Engine Type Merlin 500-29
Remvoal Reason.....................Total Engien for Aircrft Type 1
Transferred to
Exmp Expire Date 30/04/2005......Exmp Serial Carried Z3781
Exmp Origin Royal Air Force....Exmp Code Caried XR-T
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It appears from the above CAA letter, the Hurricane--known in Canada as RCAF 5424 C/N 44019--arrived in the UK and went unidentified from 1983 to 1989?
Finally in 1989, according to CAA records, they received notification of the C/N 72036 plate identity, some seven years later. According to CAA files, Hawker Hurricane RCAF 5547 received offical registration G-HURI; and as far as the CAA is concerned, their records still list G-HURI identity as RCAF 5547.
Norman Malayney
Last edited by norman malayney on Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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