Sea Hurricane (880 Naval Air Squadron)

Original illustration of a Hawker Sea Hurricane, a naval variant of the Hawker Hurricane fighter plane of the Second World War era. Depicted in this illustration is Sea Hurricane Z7015 (Z-L), originally built in Canada as a Hurricane MkI in 1940, before being converted to a Sea Hurricane MkIb in 1941. Z7015 was assigned to 880 Naval Air Squadron, embarked on HMS Indomitable. Before departing, the aircraft developed a fault and was withdrawn for repairs; perhaps this was a stroke of luck, as Z7015 instead was used for training and instruction, and as a result has survived to this day. Z7015 is presently in the ownership of the Shuttleworth Collection.

In 1942 HMS Indomitable and 880 NAS took part in the Battle of Madagascar (Operation Ironclad) against Vichy France, though Z7015 had remained in Britain for repairs and missed out on the action. Indomitable would go on to be deployed to the Mediterranean (taking part in Operation Pedestal and Operation Husky) and later the Far East. From 1951 to 1953 HMS Indomitable was the flagship of the Home Fleet, before being retired and broken up. 800 NAS had a similarly busy war, serving in the Mediterranean, North Sea, and Pacific theatres. The squadron's number was later given to the Royal Canadian Navy, who used it from 1951 to 1990.

This aviation illustration by Rob Wisdom is a high quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper.

12x16" art print shown. Cropping and title position (if applicable) may differ slightly on 'A' size art prints.