Z2389

media-20233.jpeg UPL 20233 Hawker Hurricane IIA Z2389 XR-T under restoration to taxiable condition at Brooklands museum. Salvaged from Murmansk Russia.

Object Number - UPL 20233 - Hawker Hurricane IIA Z2389 XR-T under restoration to taxiable condition at Brooklands museum. Salvaged from Murmansk Russia.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

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.

Revisions

Z2389: Gallery (1 items)