A HURRICANE TO REMEMBER

Restoring and displaying a classic, Canadian-built World War II fighter aircraft

- John Chalmers

A Canadian-built Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft, a famous type of warbird that fought valiantly in the Battle of Britain during the Second World War, has been restored to like-new condition for the Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary. The aircraft was rescued and restored through the efforts of the Calgary Mosquito Society under the leadership of president Richard de Boer. Hurricane 5389 flew during the war, but fortunately never had to face combat as all its service was in Canada on maritime patrol.

With fundraising by the Mosquito Society and financial support from the city of Calgary, both the Hurricane and a de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber have been assured of a solid future. The Mosquito is now under restoration by volunteers of the Mosquito Society at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alta.

The Hurricane is fitted with a famed Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine that powered tens of thousands of aircraft during the war, from single-engine fighters to four-engine bombers. After raising funds needed, “We contracted restoration of the Hurricane to Historic Aviation Services in Wetaskiwin, Alta., but were responsible to the city of Calgary for the project. We had to find vendors for the propeller, instruments, radiator and we overhauled the engine ourselves at the museum in Nanton,” says Richard de Boer.