Aeroplane Monthly 1993-06
-
C.Prower - From Brisfit to Beverley (3)
Two Hotspur IIs of 2 Glider Training School formate shortly after casting off from their tugs. BT551, nearer the camera, was destroyed on August 20, 1942 when it was towed off without a pilot front Slade Farm, Oxon!
BT136 was one of a batch of 13 GAL Hotspur Is delivered during 1941. This Slingsby-built example spent its time with the RAE.
View of the GAL Twin Hotspur. Pilots disliked the sensation of being constantly accompanied in such close formation by another glider!
Six Hotspur IIs on an outing, towed behind three Hawker Hectors. The three ageing, camouflaged Hawker Hectors on the left are the tugs for the three rearmost gliders. Audaxes, Lysanders and Master IIs also served in this role.
During 1942 RAF pilots were training army crews to fly Hotspurs. Carrying a pilot and seven troops, the Hotspur was able to glide 83 miles from 20,000ft. The original specification had a requirement which called for a glide of 100 miles from that height.
Two views of Hotspur II BT480. After a period with the Central Landing Establishment, it dived into the ground during the approach to Netheravon on March 19, 1942 while with 296 Sqn. These pictures were taken in September the previous year.
This view of a Hotspur II, taken in June 1942, shows entry into the training glider.
1941 recognition artwork of the Hotspur I.
Not the same Hector incident referred to by the author but a similar fate that befell K9712, at Harwell on February 17, 1939.