Rare pair

Air Classics, Jun 2002 by Schenck, Ralph

I really did appreciate the article "Rare Pair" in the April issue since I flew both Hurricanes and Spitfires when I was a fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force during World War Two. I loved both of those great airplanes - each with its own great assets and some faults.

The Hurricane did, indeed, have a duration of about 1.5 hours. I recall a flight with Hurricane PZ774 on 29 January 1945 from Ballyhalbert, Northern Ireland. The British Isles and Europe were struck by one of the worst blizzards of WWII. I was on a weather reconnaissance flight - a climb to over 30,000 feet - when I was told by the controller to head for Prestwick, Scotland. I set course to Prestwick but my transmitter quit! I used the Morse code key to communicate and was able to hear Prestwick control loud and clear. When I made an instrument approach, the fuel gauge was on empty.

As I touched down on Prestwick's longest runway - in blowing snow-- the Merlin quit. I had been airborne one hour and 30 minutes. The control tower offered congratulations and said I was the last plane in Europe to be airborne.

A jeep came out to tow the Hurricane to the tarmac and the ground crew said the engine had been flying on fumes. I think that Hurricane had a built-in guardian angel.

Dr. Ralph Schenck 110 Jack Imel Ave. Portland, IN 47371