Koolhoven (Hawker) Tempest FB.21
a/c 408-1, 408 Esquadrón, Free Spanish Air Force
Laayoune, Spanish Sahara, August 1954
Personal mount of SAAF Captain Stephen Fry



In August 1944, at the time of the Separate Peace/Great Betrayal in Western Europe, the South African Air Force (SAAF) was operating across Africa, the Mediterranean, Italian, North West Europe, Asian and Pacific theatres of war. In addition to deployed squadrons of bombers, transport and maritime aircraft, it was flying several types of fighter-bombers: Curtiss Kittyhawk IVs, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXs and Vought F4U-1D Corsairs. As the Spitfire was seen as nearing obsolescence and the American types had been provided under Lend-Lease terms, new fighter-bombers were required for the immediate postwar years. Despite Britain offering a substantial quantity of Spitfire IXs as a gift in recognition of the country's wartime support, the South African government wanted to rebuild its domestic aircraft manufacturing industry. The last combat aircraft to be built in South Africa was a Koolhoven Crake delivered in January 1943. Thus, in late 1944, the South African government selected the Hawker Tempest II as its next fighter-bomber and Koolhoven entered into a licencing agreement with Hawker to produce 90 Tempests. Another license covered the local manufacture of the Bristol Centaurus V engine. While this force was being built up, 46 late-production Spitfire LF.9s with bubble canopies and clipped wings were delivered and mostly used for training.




The 90 Tempests were produced in 3 versions. 26 FB.20s were followed by 54 FB.21s, which differed in having additional wing hardpoints and a centreline pylon which was plumbed for fuel. 24 FB.20s were subsequently upgraded to FB.21 standard. 10 Tempest FR.22s were completed as photographic reconnaissance aircraft.




SAAF Tempests supported Free British colonial power in Commonwealth-authorised actions in Kenya, Somalia and Eritrea following the European Red Revolutions of 1950. Replaced by North American F-86 Sabres (including Koolhoven production) from 1952, surviving Tempests were offered for export from 1953. 55 refurbished FB.21s and FR.22s were sold to Free Belgium (26) and Free Spain (29) during 1953-55 for use in their African colonies.




The delivery of Tempests to the Free Spanish was part of a larger arrangement involving South African investments in Spanish Sahara. As the new Free Spanish government needed capital, it sought foriegn investment partners and concluded a privatisation deal to sell one of the world's biggest phosphate mines, at Bou Craa, to a South African consortium. To ensure the security of their investment, the new mine owners persuaded the South African government to arm, finance and staff the Free Spanish armed forces in Spanish Sahara. One result of this program was the sale of 29 refurbished Tempest to form the initial equipment of 408 Esquadrón at  Laayoune. Staffed by Free Spanish personnel and seconded SAAF crews, 408 Esq was committed to COIN operations. Technically under Free Spanish control, the unit's missions were conducted under UN authority, but were also influenced by the demands of the Bou Craa mine management. In addition to defending the mine site and the route that connected the mine to the Laayoune port, the squadron projected UN power into the vastness of the Sahara, including frequent missions into the neighbouring Free French colonies. Combating Red special forces, nationalist guerillas and bandits, mission profiles included CAS, strike, road convoy protection, armed reconnaissance and photo reconnaissance. With its focus on COIN warfare, 408 Esq was noticeably kept away from engaging Red airpower.




Tempest FB.21 408-1 was the personal mount of the seconded SAAF pilot Captain Stephen Fry. It is depicted here as photographed before a pre-dawn take-off in August 1954, configured with a long-range/long-endurance ground attack loadout. A 165 gallon Fletcher fuel tank was mounted on each inside underwing station, flanked by pairs of Armscor-produced RP-3 rockets with 60lb HE GP warheads. The centreline pylon was rarely used by 408 Esq due to concerns over the high take off weights and high temperatures experienced at Laayoune; a further weight reduction measure was the removal of the inner wheel covers. 408 Esq pilots often worked closely with Ala 11, which flew AT-6Ds in the FAC and COIN roles.




408 Esq replaced their Tempests with Douglas AD6 Skyraiders in 1957. By then, this aircraft's pilot, Stephen Fry, had served a stint as an Instructor Pilot and had was flying Koolhoven made F-86Fs with 1 Squadron SAAF. He would go on to achieve 25 air to air kills over North Africa in Sabres, Grumman F11F-3 Tigers and Koolhoven-made F-1014E/G Starfighters. Following the Anzanian Revolution that overthrew South Africa's Apartheid regime, Fry joined the Rhodesian Air Force as a Wing Commander and flew F-104Gs in the Bush War against ZANLA and ZIPRA nationalist guerrilla forces. When the white Rhodesian government was defeated in 1979, Fry, now a Group Captain, fled to Brazil.

One of my favourite aircraft and looks really good in that scheme 

Looks good in those colours!

TomZ

not expection but very cool 

Very nice indeed. I had a few of those Matchbox Tempest kits but never used the Centaurus option.

I do love a plane with a big nasty engine and the Tempest is right there ..love Comrade   

Quote from: Wardukw-NZ on December 24, 2022, 08:51:19 AMI do love a plane with a big nasty engine and the Tempest is right there ..love Comrade   

Did you notice the camo pattern inspiration? It's based on the SEA scheme of another big nasty radial engined job, the A-1 Skyraider.

Quote from: comrade harps on December 24, 2022, 08:55:12 PM

Quote from: Wardukw-NZ on December 24, 2022, 08:51:19 AMI do love a plane with a big nasty engine and the Tempest is right there ..love Comrade   

Did you notice the camo pattern inspiration? It's based on the SEA scheme of another big nasty radial engined job, the A-1 Skyraider.

It's shows how much I don't notice anything with only one coffee in the system 
Now ya mention it mate yup I can see it but ill be honest I did take a look at a pic to see the lay out 

Lovely.

 

Nice job with that old kit. 

How did you do the rocket rails? Scratch (if so - how?) or from the spare box?

Quote from: Pellson on December 25, 2022, 03:01:29 AMNice job with that old kit. 

How did you do the rocket rails? Scratch (if so - how?) or from the spare box?

The pylons are from the spares box and weren't originally pylons and the stacked rockets are from the Special Hobby Seafire FR.47 kit.

The Tempest is the old 1:72nd Matchbox kit. Bought it cheaply at the Melbourne Model Expo in June from the Buy, Swap and Smell. Goes together a charm.

Thanks for having not forgotten the Twin-Tempest Mk.22 also!:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/Tempest-22-mk.jpg

Quote from: Tophe on December 25, 2022, 05:33:18 AMThanks for having not forgotten the Twin-Tempest Mk.22 also!:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/Tempest-22-mk.jpg

For long endurance COIN over the vastness of the Sahara!

Thanks to have discovered a reason (other than my craziness...)

Nice work ! She does look good in those colours. Love the top shots, she looks so powerful.