Pair of war machine socks: RAF Hawker Typhoon

Sock Size

The Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group (HTPG) is a charitable organisation, run entirely by volunteers, that has existed since 2016 to raise the funds required to rebuild Hawker Typhoon MkIb, RB396 for cultural and historical purposes.

The Hawker Typhoon; a powerful, potent ground attack aircraft that redressed the balance in mainland Europe during World War Two (WWII), has been lost from the collective memory of our national, industrial and engineering heritage. RB396 will symbolise this heritage, educate the public and become a permanent memorial to all the crews, of all nationalities, that made the ultimate sacrifice operating the Typhoon.

Innovative technology requires time for its niche to be identified, and so this was proven with the Typhoon. Pushed into service too early, development and testing taking place during front-line service, circumstances and the foresight of a number of young squadron commanders combined to identify the Typhoon as a superb ground-attack platform and in the process, save the type. Issues relating to the new Napier Sabre engine, the tail structure and carbon monoxide in early aircraft went on to be resolved and the Typhoon gained a reputation as one of the greatest and most feared ground attack aircraft of WWII. The pilots knew that this rugged platform would get them to the target fast, take a lot of damage and get them home where many other types would have failed.

This particular unit, RB396 had a short, but illustrious, career. Built in
November 1944 and delivered to 83GSU at RAF Westhampnett by ATA pilot Anna Leska, she then joined 174 Squadron on the continent. The aircraft was flown by many pilots, but mainly by Frank Johnson. She was flown by Sidney Russel-Smith, who
survives to this day, on 28th March 1945 picking up flak damage - one of eighteen occasions on which this happened in her four month life. Finally, at the hands
of Chris House, she was damaged again, this time resulting in a forced landing near Denekamp on the 1st April 1945.