{"id":1579599,"date":"2019-11-18T15:47:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T14:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/armahobbynews.pl\/?p=1579599"},"modified":"2024-07-10T11:27:01","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T09:27:01","slug":"the-fighting-cocks-hurricanes-iic-over-algeria-70035","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/armahobbynews.pl\/en\/blog\/2019\/11\/18\/the-fighting-cocks-hurricanes-iic-over-algeria-70035\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u201eFighting Cocks\u201d – Hurricanes IIc over Algeria"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the 8th November 1942 Allied forces commenced the first big amphibian operation during the Second World War \u2013 Operation \u201cTorch\u201d \u2013 landing in French North Africa. The air support was provided by aircraft from US Navy and Royal Navy aircraft carriers and from Gibraltar. One of units \u00a0was RAF No 43 Fighter Squadron \u201cFighting Cocks\u201d.<\/p>\n

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43 Squadron took part in Battle of Britain and then in day\/night operations over continent. It was one of Hurricane Squadons involved in\u00a0 Operation Jubilee, Dieppe Raid in August 1942. When dispatched to Africa the squadron was a quite experienced unit.<\/p>\n

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Hurricanes Mk II from 43 squadronRAF, Tangmere, Summer 1942, photo: wikimedia commons<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Invasion<\/h2>\n

On the 5th November pilots of the squadron came ashore in Giblartar. There they received new aircraft \u2013 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc. According to pilots those \u201cnew\u201d mounts were worse than Hurricanes they had left in England. But that was not the worst news they received. They also learnt that they would land at Maison Blanche air base, even if it would be still in French hands. It was a very risky operation as Maison Base fighter force consisted of very good French fighter planes \u2013 Dewoitine D.520. These fighters were almost as good as Hurricanes, especially when the latter had external fuel tanks which lowered their performance, especially speed.<\/p>\n

On the 8th November, at 08.00 in the morning, S\/L Michael Rook led his squadron towards Africa. S\/L Rook led Flight A (9 Hurricanes) and Wg Cdr Michael Pedley Flight B (9 Hurricanes). Three hours later the squadron reached their target. Fortunately Allies had already captured the base. Interestingly shortly before squadron\u2019s take off Gibraltar received information that Maison Blanche had been occupied by Allies, yet no-one forwarded that message to the pilots.<\/p>\n

When the squadron reached the base, Rook landed with Flight A, refuelled planes and took off to cover Flight B when they were refuelling.<\/p>\n

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S\/Ldr Michael Rook flying the Hurricane Mk IIc HV406\/FT-E, Maison Blanche, Algieria, November1942. Photo: 43 Squadron Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Into Action<\/h2>\n

Next day in the morning S\/L Rook and F\/O D.C. Deuntzer took off to intercept German Junkers 88 which was attacking shipping near Algier. German pilot managed to escape, although F\/O Deuntzer claimed it damaged.<\/p>\n

At around 16.30 a Boeing B-17 carrying Gen Mark Clark was approaching Maison Blanche when the airbase and the Algier harbour were attacked by 30 German bombers Ju 88 and He 111. Nos 43 ad 81 squadrons were scrambled to repel the attack. The Fighting Cocks attacked German raiders and claimed 1 Ju 88 and 1 He 111 destroyed (the Junkers was claimed by three pilots F\/O Barker, Flt Sgt Ball and Sgt Leeming), 3 Ju 88 damaged and 1 Ju 88 probably destroyed.<\/p>\n

On the 10th November at dusk F\/O Turkington shot down in flames a Ju 88 from 1(F.)\/122 which crashed on the beach nearby Algier. This victory opened his tally to become an ace.<\/p>\n\n\t\t