Camm Survivors Lost

• G-HURR

G-HURR

The Vintage aircraft scene is in mourning today after the news of yesterday's accident at the annual Shoreham Battle of Britain air display. Canadian built Hurricane Mk. XIIA, R.C.A.F. 5589 (G-HURR) crashed taking the life of it's pilot, Brian Brown, aged 49 years from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Brian was an accomplished air display pilot, and had been flying for fifteen years and amassed about 350 hours flying the Hurricane over a period of ten years. He was manager of Breighton airfield, and had flown jet aircraft in the Bond film, "Tomorrow Never Dies". He had also flown WW1 fighters in the film, "Fly Boys".

The aircraft was originally taken on charge 6 November 1942, struck off charge 1 October 1946 — recovered from a farm by Harry Whereatt. In 1988/9 it was sold to Brian Ingliss of Autokraft, Surrey, near Brooklands, England. The aircraft was restored to airworthy condition and was operated as being (BE417)- AE-K, of 402 RCAF Squadron. It was then sold to the Real Aeroplane Company at Breighton, Yorkshire. It was then repainted black as "Widge" Gleed's personal mount (87 (NF) Squadron) serial P2798, LK-A, although this serial was never shown. The Hurricane appeared in the TV programme "Heartbeat". G-HURR was sold on to Mr. Tom Blair the present owner, who together with other aircraft in his collection, had the Hurricane based at Duxford, in Cambridgeshire.

The Hurricane had only recently completed a complete overhaul. It had been re-sprayed to a highly authentic paint scheme as AE-C, (BD707) of 402 RCAF Squadron, Rochford, Essex.

Camm Followers sends condolences to the pilot's family Brian and his partner Eileen Evans. It also extends its sadness to Mr. Tom Blair at the loss of what was a beautiful aircraft. Tragic that on this day 15th September 2007, we remember the sacrifices made by our young pilots of Fighter Command who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the summer months of 1940, the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Then to link it with the loss of a skilled airshow pilot and a classic warbird, an incident that has left us all numb and shocked. Full recognition for the above news report must go to the Sunday Express newspaper.

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The photo below shows G-HURR taxying back after giving a flying display at Duxford on 8 September 2007. The pilot was David Ratcliffe. A week later it crashed and burned while giving a display at Shoreham, resulting in the death of its pilot, Brian Brown.
The Air Accident Investigation Board report may be acessed via the following link

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