Z2389
Hawker Hurricane IIA Z2389, built at Kingston-on-Thames, assembled and test flown at either Langley or Brooklands, assigned to 71 Eagle Sqn RAF. As part of emergency war supplies for Russia, Z2389 was crated up and loaded on the merchant ship SS ‘S85’ which joined Convoy PQ16. The convoy left for Murmansk on 21st May 1942. With 35 vessels, this was the largest Russian convoy so far - losing seven cargo ships en route.
On arrival the aircraft joined 767 Regiment of the Red Air Force on the Kola Penninsula. On the 20th June 1942, it engaged two Messerschmitt Bf109Fs and five Bf110s over a remote part of Murmansk but was shot down along with two other Hurricanes. Z2389’s pilot F/Lt Ivan Kalashnikov survived the forced landing.
Fifty years later, Z2389 was found by Russian historians and its remains were taken to St Petersburg in 1996. In 1997, the part-restored aircraft was first seen by WWII recovery specialist, Jim Pearce, then inspected by Brooklands Museum in May. Z2389 arrived at Brooklands on the 14th October 1997. Whence its restoration began.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Shipped overseas |
Hvalfjörður, Iceland | 21 May 1942 - 26 May 1942 | Convoy left Hvalfjord for Murmansk on 21st May 1942. With 35 vessels, this was the largest Russian convoy so far - losing seven cargo ships en route. |
Other Off-Loaded |
Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast, Russia | 26 May 1942 | Off-Loaded Murmansk. |
Assigned |
Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, 184595 | 28 May 1942 | Joined 767 Regiment of the Red Army Air Force on the Kola Penninsula. |
Crashed |
Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast, Russia | 20 June 1942 | Engaged two Messerschmitt Bf109Fs and five Bf110s over a remote part of Murmansk but was shot down along with two other Hurricanes. Pilot F/Lt Ivan Kalashnikov survived the forced landing. 20-Jun-42. |
Other Manufactured |
Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, UK | Built at Hawker, Kingston-on-Thames between August 1940 to July 1941. | |
Other Assembled |
Langley, Slough, Slough, Slough SL3, UK | Assembled and test flown at either Langley or Brooklands. | |
Delivered |
England, UK | Delivered to RAF. | |
Assigned |
Martlesham Heath, Martlesham, Suffolk, UK | Assigned to 71 Eagle Sqn RAF. | |
Other Crated up |
United Kingdom | Crated up at MU for shipping overseas. | |
Other Loaded aboard |
Merseyside, UK | Loaded on the merchant ship SS ‘S85’ which joined Convoy PQ16. | |
Other Salvaged / Recovered |
St Petersburg, Russia | 50 Years on. Found by Russian historians and its remains were taken to St Petersburg in 1996. | |
Other Returned home |
Brooklands, Weybridge, Weybridge, Surrey KT13, UK | 14 October 1997 | In 1997, the part-restored aircraft was first seen by WWII recovery specialist, Jim Pearce, then inspected by Brooklands Museum in May. Z2389 arrived at Brooklands on the 14th October 1997. |