HAWK 75 TO FLY AGAIN

Air Classics, Jul 2004

The Fighter Collection brings a nearly extinct aircraft back to life

Visitors to the USAF Museum can sec a restored Curtiss P-36A on display and, if you want to go a bit farther, there is a fixed gear H-75N Hawk on display in Bangkok, Thailand. However, in one of the most exciting restoration projects of this decade, a Curtiss H-75 Hawk is in the final stages of restoration to flying condition. This project will give the public a chance to see one of the most important early war fighters back in the air.

France was the best customer for the export version of the Air Corps' P-36 and an initial order for 100 aircraft was in France by May 1939. In service, the aircraft were numbered 1 to 100 and were issued to four Groupes de Chasse comprising I/4, II/4, I/5, and II/5. Hawk No. 82, the subject of the restoration, went to CG II/5 at Reims and was stationed at Toul during the Battle of France where the Hawks gave a good account of themselves against the Nazi invaders.

Surviving Curtiss fighters were ordered to withdraw to Algeria before the surrender of France and the remaining Curtiss fighter groups made the journey to Oran between 18 and 20 June 1940. France surrendered on 25 June. In Algeria, the armed forces came under control of the French Vichy Government which, in turn, was under the control of the Nazis.

The Hawks once again saw considerable action - fighting the British and then the Americans during Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. During this battle, 15 Hawks and eight French pilots were lost while at least seven US Navy Wildcats were destroyed. No. 82 participated in this turning point battle.

Surviving the war, No. 82 - along with 22 other Hawks - became an advanced trainer from 1946 to 1949 with the 4th Training Squadron at Cazaux in western France. Dropped from further use, the airframe was saved by Michel Pont who stored the plane until it was purchased by The Fighter Collection during the 1980s. With so many other projects, No. 82 was kept in storage until just recently.

The wing was shipped to New Zealand for restoration while the fuselage, tail, engine and prop, engine mount, and internal systems went to the US for restoration under the direction of Matt Nightingale. The completed wing arrived in the US during April and Matt and his dedicated team of restorers are doing a magnificent job : on what has to be one of the world's most unusual combat veterans - a fighter that fought for both sides during WWII. We will be featuring a detailed story on this machine in the near future.