Hawker Hamsin AOP.Mk.1 XL916/R of 249 Squadron RAF Hargeisa, Somaliland 1960

[Knightflyer]

Hawker Hamsin AOP.Mk.1 XL916/R of 249 Squadron RAF Hargeisa, Somaliland 1960









In the late 1950's the skies over the several battle-fronts of the British/Arab Commonwealth's ongoing war with Sudan and it's allies started to become more deadly as the Sudanese Armed Forces began to receive supplies and support from it's Communist and militant nationalist Arab backers. The rapier like thrusts of the RAF's fast jet attacks generally remained untroubled until the eventual arrival of MiGs, but the slow-moving Austers and Pioneers providing Army Support and Forward Air Control (FAC) found themselves increasingly more vulnerable as time went on.

It was into this environment that the need for a fast FAC aircraft came to be recognised. A hurried consultation with British aircraft manufacturers led to a proposal from Hawker to develop a version of it's Sea Fury T.20 Trainer and this was rapidly accepted, as the potential benefits of the aircraft's high speed, range and weapon carrying capability (for suppression of ground-fire) became apparent.

The new aircraft did not have the two cockpits connected by a tunnel of the trainer aircraft, but had the separate cockpits of the aircraft supplied to Iraq, with strengthening and minor shape amendments to alter the airflow that had caused collapse of the rear canopy previously. The folding wings and arrestor hook and other Naval equipment were removed, additional armour plating was added and the rear cockpit was outfitted with a state of the art radio suite to allow direct communication by the Observer / Forward Air Controller with allied forces on the ground and in the air. The aircraft also retained the four 20 mm cannon of the front-line Sea Furies and the ability to carry under-wing stores, although these were normally limited to long range tanks and target-marking rockets.

Consideration was given to calling the aircraft simply the Hawker Fury, or Fury II (the pre-war biplane being the Fury 'I' ) but given the new, different and very specific role of the aircraft, there was a growing groundswell of opinion for a new name, and given the general Arab/Arabian location of the conflict the aircraft was given the name Hawker Hamsin, (a variation of Khamsin that rolled slightly easier off Western tongues) for the dry, hot, sandy local wind affecting Egypt; and other parts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula; it was also felt to follow on nicely from Hurricane, Tempest etc. Needless to say, Haboob, the Sudanese local name for the wind, wasn't considered!

The designation of the aircraft as an Airborne Observation Post (AOP) was somewhat archaic but fitted the aircraft in the widest sense of it's usage, and it was as such that 249 Squadron gave up in DH Venom Mk.4s and began to receive it's Hawker Hamsin AOP Mark 1s.

Initially the squadron members were not particularly happy, but as they began to learn the specifics of their new aircraft and role, the more they began to see themselves as a small and elite group and a strong esprit de corps began to develop.

With their main base being at RAF Hargeisa in Somaliland (also a member of the British/Arab Commonwealth) the squadron used the long range of the aircraft combined with forward operational / refuelling stations to cover the ongoing conflicts on both the northern and southern borders of Sudan, and in the southern Arabian Peninsula.

The aircraft were finished in the normal RAF 'desert camouflage' used at that time in the conflict , with the standard additional  'Combat Zone Identification Markings' (Sudan Stripes) that provided clear identification of Commonwealth Aircraft applied on the wings and fuselage. However as part of the squadron's new found esprit de corps and individuality variations on the standard theme began to appear.

Firstly the fuselage 'Sudan Stripes' were carried on the nose, rather than in the more typical rear fuselage position. Then ostensibly red/blue tactical roundels were added on the upper wings and fuselage to make the aircraft less visible, although this supposed desire for low visibility was somewhat counteracted by the addition of large and obvious squadron markings to either side of the fuselage roundels and on the tail-fin.

However gaudy it's aircraft though, 249 delivered as promised, and through it's precise and direct actions acted as a force multiplier in the region (blasting away at opposing ground forces with four 20 mm cannon on occasion didn't harm the cause either!)

[PR19_Kit]

Magic, a cracking idea well modelled. 

Love the backstory too.

[Old Wombat]

Needless to say, Haboob, the Sudanese local name for the wind, wasn't considered!

However, you know that, without a doubt, it's what their maintenance crews would have been calling them within a week.

[NARSES2]

That's very neat  I do like the way you've carried on the naming tradition of using a wind  Mind you I did initially read it as Hawker Hamish  

[Dizzyfugu]

Very nice! 

Would also be well-suited for the RAF Centenary GB!

[Knightflyer]

Very nice! 

Would also be well-suited for the RAF Centenary GB!

Indeed it would, except for the small fact that I started it in October 2017 and completed all but the decals in 11 days. It then sat on my shelf needing decals until yesterday due to a major loss of inspirational mojo! 

I still have a couple of projects languishing (now there's a good word!) on the shelf, if I get those out of the way I'm hoping to start on something for the GB soon  But thanks to you and all for the positive comments

[Glenn Gilbertson]

That looks really good - and a convincing backstory!

[Tophe]

Unusual & nice!