Hawker Hurricane Mark I of No. 213 Squadron RAF based at Famagusta, banks away from the photographer's aircraft over the mountains of Cyprus. Photo likely taken when the Squadron was deployed, July-December 1941, at Nicosia, Cyprus, to contrast the air operations of Regia Aeronautica and Luftwaffe from the bases of the Aegean and the occupied Greece, prior of this return in Egypt. The photo depict the seemingly undersurface paint scheme used, with considerable variation, according the IWM’s label, to identify operational RAF fighters in the early years of the Second World War. In this case the aircraft's azure-blue undersurface has been augmented by painting the port wing matt black. Victor Sierra



High angle bank over Cyprus

Line-up of some of the B Flight, No. 30 Squadron RAF’s Hawker Hurricane Mark Is (Z4204 “H” nearest) at Idku, Egypt, 1941, employed as night fighters where this unit was deployed for the Alexandria’s defence against the Axis night raid. This photo taken by day show the all matt black color of the Hurricane’s upper surface. The lower surface’s color seems bright black. The fuselage’s roundel is without the with circle, but with the “darkening” of the plane contrasting the bright white large H letter. In reality an effective night air defence was possible only with the radar-equipped fighters. Victor Sierra

All black Hurricane

Hawker Hurricanes Mk. IID, armed with 40mm cannon for tank busting role, of the 7 Squadron South African Air Force taking off in the Western desert. 1942. Dating back to 12 January 1942 when this unit was formed at Zwartkip equipped with Curtiss Mohawks, the 7 Squadron, motto “Caelorum Domini" (Lords of the Sky), moved to Egypt in April-May 1942, where it converted to the Hawker Hurricane, operating as a standard fighter squadron from 4 July until September. Its standard Hurricanes were then replaced with the Mk. IID cannon-buster, armed with 40mm cannon, which were used during the battle of El Alamein, replaced in November 1942 with Mk. IICs. These were used during the advance into Tunisia when the squadron provided fighter cover for coastal convoys carrying vital supplies to the advancing armies. In April the tank-busters returned, but the campaign in North Africa ended before they could be used. Victor Sierra