Scale Aviation Modeller International – March 2019

British Aircraft in Romania No 1:

Hawker Hurricane

AUTHORS: Horia Stoica & Vasile Radu

YEAR: 2017

PUBLISHER: Host Models

ISBN: 978-973-0-25783-0

FOR M AT: 88 pp Hardback

O

n page 73 of this

book, there is a pair of

quintessentially British

photos: a number of pilots are

sitting around in deck chairs,

waiting for the order to scramble,

whilst a couple of Hurricanes

can be seen in the background.

But this is not anywhere near

Great Britain, as evidenced by

the “Michael Crosses” and Axis

Eastern Front markings which

can be seen on the Hurricanes.

In 1938 the Romanian

Air Attache in London was

instrumental in acquiring twelve

Hurricanes (and a number of

Blenheims) for Romania. There

may well have been more, had

not the UK ceased export of

aircraft needed by the RAF at

that time. These Hurricanes

went on to serve in Esc. 53 (53

Sqn), and after Romania entered

the war they were used for both

home defence, and for ofensive

missions such as bomber escort.

They were withdrawn in 1944,

although their use had declined

signiicantly since September

1941, partly due to lack of spares,

and partly to avoid confusion due

to Soviet use of the Hurricane.

This book tells the story of

these aircraft. There is some

introductory and concluding

text, but the story is told

mainly through the medium of

photographs. All are very well

chosen, and are wide-ranging

in subject, covering such diverse

subjects as an armourer re-

arming an aircraft, and a pilot

relaxing in his tent, illustrating

living conditions for the crews.

There are plenty of shots which

will provide useful reference

or inspiration for modellers.

The text and captions are

in both Romanian and English.

Particularly useful snippets

include a list of the

RAF serials allocated

to these aircraft, and

a glossary, complete

with an explanation

of Romanian Air

Force ranks.

The authors are both

Romanian aeronautics

experts and enthusiasts.

They intend this to be

the irst in an ambitious

project to highlight civil

and military aircraft

used by Romania, and

the people who lew

and supported them.

The conception, as

stated in the authors’ note, is an

album “ ... where the photos tell

more than the text, as a personal

journal for each type ...”. In

this reviewer’s opinion, this

volume meets that aim 100%. It

will be of particular interest to

anyone with an interest in the

Hurricane, the Romanian Air

Force, or the war on the Eastern

Front, and will provide plenty of

inspiration for modellers looking

for an unusual colour scheme.

My thanks to the publisher

Host Models for the review copy.

MJC

SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL • MARCH 2019

BOOKS & MEDIA

77

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