Hurricanes V7742 and V6565

Hurricanes V7742 & V6565

Crank shaft from V6565

 On the 12th August 1941 these two Hurricanes crashed into Horn Crag on the flank of Scafell in the English Lake District .
Flying out of RAF Usworth as part of No.55 OTU on a formation flying exercise the aircraft entered cloud and flew at high speed straight into the mountain . Both crewmen would have been killed instantly .

Hub from V6565

 The two  men who died were both Polish .
They were
Sgt . Stanislaw Karubin  DFM    V7742
and
P/O Zigmunt Hohne  V6565










Sgt Karubin was a hero .
He fought in Poland against the initial German attack with 111 Eskadra Squadron having some success in shooting down a Bf110 . Escaping the German clutches he also fought in the Battle of France before becoming a Battle of Britain ace .
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal .

Sgt. Stanislaw Karubin D.F.M

Sgt. Stanislaw Karubin D.F.M

V6565

impact site of V6565 with the memorial to both men

Detail of V6565  from engine casing

another number from V6565

 The impact point can still clearly be seen by scarring on the rock face in the far distance in the photo on the left.
The wreckage of V7742 is more difficult to see and photograph being spread amongst the rocky scree slope below the small crags.

Main spar of V7742

the speed of impact is exhibited here within the extremely crumpled metal of V7742

Sgt Karubin

P/O Hohne