Hector glider tugs

[Alex Crawford]

Hi,

I'm trying to find some info on the use of the Hawker Hector as glider tugs. I have a list of the units that used the aircraft and the serials of the aircraft used, but little else.

If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd be grateful.

Regards,

Alex

[teeteringhead]

Some links which may be useful on the Assault Glider Association's website here. (http://www.assaultgliderproject.org.uk/)

[Wunper]

Alex
Hectors were used mainly at No 1 GTS at Thame in 1940-41 used for towing Hotspur gliders. They were obsolete Army Co-op aircraft with the beefy Napier Dagger engine they were well suited to getting Hotspurs out of the relatively small field there.
If you can find one read Lawrence Wrights excellent "The Wooden Sword", which gives a good flavour of how they were used.
I don't think many other units used them and by 1942 I doubt if any were left they had tender undercarriages and quite a few succumbed either on takeoff or landing at Thame which was (and still is) a rough field.
I am out of country at the moment but have a set of tug pilots notes for the Hector in Dad's logbook, if you are interested pm me and I will scan them in for you when I return next week.
A trip to Middle Wallop might well be useful.
Cheers
W

[chevvron]

I think I read an article about Habbaniya in the '40's where they were still in use. It was in Aeroplane Monthly.

[Alex Crawford]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

Wunper, I'll drop you a PM towards the end of next week.

Alex

[Alex Crawford]

Hi,

On a similar vaine, does anyone know the whereabouts of the two Hector remains that were receovered in Ireland?

Are they still under restoration?

Didn't want to start a new Hector thread.

Alex

[JW411]

I'm fairly sure that they were recovered by Tim Moore of Skysports and that at least one of them has been used in his Hawker Demon restoration (he had a RR Kestrel but couldn't get his hands on a Napier Dagger).

[Wunper]

Alex
Here is the Tug Pilot supplement for towing Hotspurs from GTS Thame in 1941
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/wunper/Hector_tug_notes_No1GTS.jpg
The following machines were flown from GTS Thame and GTS No2 Weston-On-the Green between April 1941 and August 1942
K8119,K9775,K9716,K9773,K9751,K9751,K9767,K9723,K9755,K8137, K9771,K9773,K8126,K9762.K9755,K9734,K9765,K9315,K9774,K8142, K8134.

And here is a pic from Lawrence Wrights "Wooden Sword" (Elek books 1967)
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/wunper/Hector.jpg

I hope you find this useful.
Kind regards
W

[southender]

Apparently, there were 72 Hectors still on Air Ministry charge during 1940.

In 1941 16 Hectors were allocated to Wellesbourne Mountford, 16 to Croughton and 10 to Kidlington for the purpose of towing Hotspur training gliders.

I believe these were with Nos 1 and 2 AACU. Serial numbers generally tie in with those previously posted.

Other Hectors were utilised for inter airfield communications during the Battle of Britain.

A few were also stationed at Stoke Orchard, Gloucestershire before all were struck off charge in 1942.

Cheers

Southender

[Alex Crawford]

Hi,

Thanks for the tug pilot supplement Wunper, much appreciated. Do you know if this was an official Air Ministry doc or something that GTS Thame made up for the benefit of its pilots.

Can I use this in a publication I am working on? Does anyone have any photos of Hector Tugs or Hectors in general that I could use?

Thanks,

Alex

[Wunper]

Alex
That would have been a local flying instruction from GTS Thame which was where the Army Glider training syllabus was developed.
For Photos you will need to visit the Museum of Army flying at Middle Wallop and ask to see the Lawrence Wright photo collection which should have plenty of Hector/Hart/Hind pictures.
Here is an appropriately commented photo from Dad's logbook from May 1942.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/wunper/Hector_tug.jpg

[Alex Crawford]

Hi Wunper,

Thanks for that. I've mailed the Army Air Corps Museum to see if they can help.

Alex