The WW2 Hawker Hurricane Wreck that Lay at the bottom of a lake for 61 years –
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB, presented in exposition “Falcons of the Motherland” in the museum of technology of Vadim Zadorozhny.
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB serial number Z5252
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB became the first Allied combat aircraft to arrive in the USSR. In August 1941, 24 fighters took off from the deck of the Argus aircraft carrier and landed at the Vaenga airfield near Murmansk. The machines were part of the 151st wing (regiment) of the British Air Force, sent to help the Soviet units in the Arctic. After some time, they were joined by another 15 aircraft of this type. In total, during the Great Patriotic War, about 3,000 Hurricanes were delivered to the USSR.
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB serial number Z 5252 on display at the museum was one of the aircraft that flew in the 151st RAF Fighter Wing, later it became part of the 78th Fighter Wing, equipped with Hurricanes. The regiment was commanded by Boris Safonov.
This “Hurricane” participated in the battles until June 2, 1942. Then Lieutenant P.P., who piloted it. Markov was shot down west of Murmansk during an air battle with German Bf.109E fighters.
In view of the damage received, Markov had to land the plane on the ice of Lake Nyalyavr, 40 km from Murmansk, and get to the location of the unit on foot. By the time the rescue team arrived at the landing site, the plane had sunk to the bottom of the lake.
In 2003, a group of searchers with divers led by Boris Osetinsky found and raised it from the bottom of the lake. I must say that many planes of the Second World War were found and raised from the bottom of the lakes of the Murmansk region, unfortunately, some of them were sold abroad.
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB (Z 5252) was lucky it ended up in the caring hands of the restorers of the museum of V. Zadorozhny. As with the Yak-1, it was decided not to restore it to its original (factory) appearance, but to leave it as it is. Now it is displayed in a diorama dedicated to the moment of landing on the ice.
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